A laudable aim if ever I heard one. Who wouldn't want students to do the absolute best they could?
But, I'm left wondering if a return to selection at the age of 11 is akin to just shifting the deckchairs around on the deck of the titanic? It might look good, it might even help a few students but the problem you are trying to solve will essentially remain unresolved.
I strongly believe in parental choice for the type of education their child should receive and also believe that many problems of education could be resolved if parents took a far more active role in their child's education - just like the parents who are calling for new grammar schools are actually doing.
And, if enough parents want a grammar school in their area, as they feel this is what is best for their child, then they should be allowed to have it.
However, those in charge should look at the underlying reasons as to why some are asking for a return to grammar schools. Grammar schools select only the most able. Let's say, for arguments sake, that this turns out to be the top 10% of students in the area. These students should then achieve in the top 10% of GCSE and A Level results which would be mostly A*'s and A's across the board. (Or 9's and 8's in new money).
We will ignore the reality here that many don't achieve this and wait for this year's Progress 8 scores to highlight that some grammar schools have the exact same problem as some "non-grammar" schools - that academic progress is tepid at best and ask "why is it that parents feel only a grammar school can give this type of academic education?"
In many parts of the country, sadly, I feel they are correct. Academies, aka Comprehensives, don't always demand the academic standards and rigour from all (not just the most able) that they should. Schools are rightly responsible for teaching a whole host of important skills to the students, in conjunction with parents, but too many seem to have forgotten that they are the only place where students can study academic subjects.
I believe more schools need to have an insistence on academic performance from all, not just their more able, and this would help reduce the clamour for new grammar schools.
Surely, we should be able to expect that our children can go to the local academy and get fully stretched, motivated and enthused academically by top class teaching whether they are academically able or not? What does it say about our schools when parents don't trust their local school to get the best out of their child academically. (And please note, we are not talking about 1 or 2 parents but enough for the government to take note and act upon).
Until all schools are able to stretch the most able and challenge those who are not as naturally able to do the best they can, parents will call for a type of education that challenges their child to reach the peak of their academic ability.
If the local school down the road does it then why would anyone send their child out of the catchment area to a grammar school?
UPDATE: Just came across this excellent discussion of grammar schools on Radio 4's Briefing Room.
Take a listen
Radio 4 - Briefing Room - Grammar Schools
