Richard Garner: Gove's mixed messages on selection
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Asked if he was in favour of expanding selective education in areas where parents wanted it, Michael Gove famously said: "My foot is hovering over the pedal: I'll have to see what my co-driver Nick Clegg has to say."
That was just after the election. This year, he was said to have expressed support for an idea that an existing grammar school could set up a "satellite" grammar school in a town that did not have a selective school. Mr Gove's office was adamant that he had not strayed from the party line that the Government would not sanction any new selective schools.
From 1,200 state grammar schools up until the 1970s, we now have 164 remaining as the majority of state secondary schools became comprehensives. As far as direct grant schools were concerned, most went private, 45 Roman Catholic schools joined the state sector and a few closed.
I, too, have heard mutterings that some would rejoin the state if they could retain selection. The issue is likely to continue to be hotly debated within the Conservative Party.
Whether it will change its mind if it is ever given a clear mandate to run the country remains to be seen.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments