Letter: Labour blots its copy book on diversity of education
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.Sir: Your leading article (27 July) on the Labour Party's education policy asks of the grammar school question: 'Will Labour override local choice and ban selection?'
There are three sets of choosers. First, there are members of the public. Usually, when pollsters ask the question, the response is that the general public rather likes grammar schools. Views on secondary modern schools are seldom canvassed. The second set, whose children are in grammar schools or have a good chance of being selected for them, are also in favour.
However, some 80 per cent of parents, in an area where grammar schools still exist, have to send their children to schools from which the highest-performing and many of the most highly motivated children have been removed.
My experience of administering such systems is that a large majority of that 80 per cent majority strongly preferred schools which included all children, in particular their own. So, where 'local choice' is at issue and if parents are to rule, perhaps the first people to ask are all the parents of children in the local primary schools. If they are happy with a system from which most will be excluded, so be it. If not, there are some hard decisions to be made about whose parental preferences are to prevail.
Yours faithfully,
PETER NEWSAM
London, WC1
27 July
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments