Letter: Grammar schools

Sir: Current moves against the country's remaining grammar schools ("Local ballots will seal grammar schools' fate", 18 November) are nothing more than the shameful act of a bloody-minded minority on Labour's left.

They say that selection is unfair, they say that redistributing grammar school pupils throughout their locality would help raise standards; both of these assertions are nonsense.

Selection, as it now stands, is not unfair for the simple reason that it is no longer compulsory - your child does not have to sit the 11-plus. I have great sympathy with those who fought the old system, which did create a white collar/ blue collar culture. Today, however, grammar schools are one of a number of choices available, along with grant maintained, LEA's and the private sector.

The notion that abolition followed by redistribution of pupils would raise standards is ridiculous. Given that there are so few grammars left, do the abolitionists really expect us to believe that this drop in the school ocean would make one jot of difference?

This is the bitter act of old and increasingly out of touch socialists rallying against the realistic policies of new Labour. They seek easy targets to satisfy their distorted and myopic view of society. They seek to deny us as parents choice and variety in education and the opportunity to find the best course for our children.

They tell us parents do not want grammar schools. With grammar places oversubscribed eight or nine times, the facts betray this theory.

HOWARD BARNETT

Birmingham