Tag Archives: comprehensive schools

Grammar schools and “ordinary working families” again

Posted on January 23, 2019 by

In our last blog post, we looked into a new and deeply flawed ‘research report’ by former Department of Education official Iain Mansfield. It was written in support of the Prime Minister’s argument that expanding grammar schools across England would … Continue reading →

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Grammar schools helping “ordinary working families”?

Posted on January 11, 2019 by

On becoming prime minister Theresa May decided to expand grammar schools in order to benefit ‘ordinary working families’. There is no evidence that this is what grammar schools do. This week a former Department of Education official Iain Mansfield tried … Continue reading →

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Grammar schools do not overcome disadvantage

Posted on March 27, 2018 by

New research has further undermined the Government’s case for expanding grammar schools. Stephen Gorard and Nadia Siddiqui (Durham University) have taken a closer look at the Department for Education’s data, revealing some neglected factors. It was already beyond doubt that children … Continue reading →

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Back to the 1970s? I’ll vote for that

Posted on May 21, 2017 by

A personal comment by Dr Terry Wrigley, Visiting Professor, Northumbria University A few days ago the Daily Mail threatened that a Labour victory in the General Election would mean a return to the 1970s. That set me thinking. I started … Continue reading →

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The crisis in secondary schools: where is it leading?

Posted on April 15, 2017 by

All kinds of schools in England are facing damaging budget cuts. Large meetings are being held all over the country where parents and teachers together are showing their opposition to Government cuts. Every concerned teacher or parent should join the … Continue reading →

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Who will vote for secondary moderns?

Posted on March 28, 2017 by

The elephant in the room of Theresa May’s plan to open more grammar schools is – secondary modern schools. Selecting a minority of children at age 11 for grammar schools means an inferior kind of school for those who failed. This is what … Continue reading →

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Harold Rosen: an inspiration for teachers today

Posted on March 16, 2017 by

announcing an inspiring new book Harold Rosen: Writings on life, language and learning 1958-2008 Harold Rosen was one of the great reformers of English teaching. His work has just been republished, providing a challenge to the deadening practices of the National Curriculum – its obsession … Continue reading →

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