MP for Newcastle North and Education Select Committee member, Catherine McKinnell, has hit out at the Government’s plans to lift the ban on new grammar schools, which was introduced under the last Labour Government via the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act.
Addressing the Education Secretary following her Commons statement this afternoon confirming the Government’s new policy, Catherine said:
‘When discussing education with parents and teachers, the issues that come up time and time again are the need for more primary places; teacher workload and recruitment; and the North-South funding gap.
‘Not one person has ever raised new grammars with me.
‘Secretary of State, where is the evidence that this continued obsession with structures is going to resolve the real issues facing our education system?’
Commenting afterwards, Catherine said:
‘Our education sector is currently facing a huge range of challenges – not one of which will be resolved by the introduction of academic selection by all state schools.
‘I thought the ridiculous idea of forcing all schools to become academies was bad enough, but this proposal really does beggar belief.
‘Instead of harking back to the 1950s, the Government should be creating an education system fit for the 21st century – and that certainly doesn’t mean one which sees children written off before they’ve even left primary school.’