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I went to Margaret Thatcher’s grammar school – and I don’t support selection I went to Margaret Thatcher’s grammar school – and I don’t support selection
(7 days later)
The Conservative government’s decision to allow what will effectively be the country’s first new grammar school in 50 years reminds me of a joke about the trials of being a privately educated leftwing journalist. If you come out as anti-private schools, you are a hypocrite for wanting to rob others of an advantage you yourself enjoyed. But – considering the makeup of Britain’s media – if we left the criticism to columnists who are ex-comp kids, we would be waiting a very long time.The Conservative government’s decision to allow what will effectively be the country’s first new grammar school in 50 years reminds me of a joke about the trials of being a privately educated leftwing journalist. If you come out as anti-private schools, you are a hypocrite for wanting to rob others of an advantage you yourself enjoyed. But – considering the makeup of Britain’s media – if we left the criticism to columnists who are ex-comp kids, we would be waiting a very long time.
Related: Kent grammar: what you need to know about the first new selective school in yearsRelated: Kent grammar: what you need to know about the first new selective school in years
I didn’t go to private school. My parents could never have afforded it (and my socialist dad would never have gritted his teeth long enough to sign the cheque).I didn’t go to private school. My parents could never have afforded it (and my socialist dad would never have gritted his teeth long enough to sign the cheque).
But then, I grew up in Grantham, Lincolnshire, one of the few remaining counties with state selective schools. And that isn’t how we did things. My primary school was working class – kids on free school meals, mums who worked at McDonald’s, barely three parents who had gone to university – and the 11-plus was the gateway to something “better”.But then, I grew up in Grantham, Lincolnshire, one of the few remaining counties with state selective schools. And that isn’t how we did things. My primary school was working class – kids on free school meals, mums who worked at McDonald’s, barely three parents who had gone to university – and the 11-plus was the gateway to something “better”.
For the girls, this happened to be attending the same school as Margaret Thatcher. This held the ultimate social mobility promise: a girl whose dad sold fruit and veg for a living had gone on to become leader of the country – and you could do the same.For the girls, this happened to be attending the same school as Margaret Thatcher. This held the ultimate social mobility promise: a girl whose dad sold fruit and veg for a living had gone on to become leader of the country – and you could do the same.
This comforting idea surrounds the grammar school system. It paints a picture of what many of us think of as the definition of fairness: bright working-class children being given the opportunity they deserve. But the picture becomes somewhat dirtier once you turn your attention to two other lots of children: the wealthy ones it lets in and the low-income ones it keeps out.This comforting idea surrounds the grammar school system. It paints a picture of what many of us think of as the definition of fairness: bright working-class children being given the opportunity they deserve. But the picture becomes somewhat dirtier once you turn your attention to two other lots of children: the wealthy ones it lets in and the low-income ones it keeps out.
Neither are an accident. By their very purpose, selective schools say that certain children deserve the best education and the others deserve something less.Neither are an accident. By their very purpose, selective schools say that certain children deserve the best education and the others deserve something less.
That is not to say there are not excellent comprehensives, but it is to consider what selective schools take from them: the high-quality teaching staff more likely to be attracted and retained by schools with high-ability pupils, and the invaluable advantage for children of being surrounded by classmates with high abilities.That is not to say there are not excellent comprehensives, but it is to consider what selective schools take from them: the high-quality teaching staff more likely to be attracted and retained by schools with high-ability pupils, and the invaluable advantage for children of being surrounded by classmates with high abilities.
Related: Grammar schools, selection and social mobility | Letters
The effects are lasting. According to one study, in areas with a grammar school system as of last year top earners were likely to earn £16.41 an hour more than those on the lowest incomes (that’s the equivalent of about £30,000 a year, based on a 35-hour week). In areas where the education system is fully comprehensive, the salary gap was £12.33 – a quarter less.The effects are lasting. According to one study, in areas with a grammar school system as of last year top earners were likely to earn £16.41 an hour more than those on the lowest incomes (that’s the equivalent of about £30,000 a year, based on a 35-hour week). In areas where the education system is fully comprehensive, the salary gap was £12.33 – a quarter less.
Social mobility is often a survival of the smartest: the vast chunk of working-class children sacrificed for the benefit of a few.Social mobility is often a survival of the smartest: the vast chunk of working-class children sacrificed for the benefit of a few.
This gets even murkier once we acknowledge that passing the 11-plus is less a reflection of how smart a child is and more of how much their parents earn.This gets even murkier once we acknowledge that passing the 11-plus is less a reflection of how smart a child is and more of how much their parents earn.
On the morning of our 11-plus results, our year 6 class had a “phone tree” where we rang a friend and then passed on the news of success or failure. It was not a coincidence that those of us who passed were the ones whose parents took us to WH Smith for practice books on a Saturday.On the morning of our 11-plus results, our year 6 class had a “phone tree” where we rang a friend and then passed on the news of success or failure. It was not a coincidence that those of us who passed were the ones whose parents took us to WH Smith for practice books on a Saturday.
Related: Grammar schools are not the answer: the road to a better life starts at birth, not at 11 | Gaby HinsliffRelated: Grammar schools are not the answer: the road to a better life starts at birth, not at 11 | Gaby Hinsliff
The middle classes know the rules of the game even better, and have the money to play it – be it subtly, with bedtime stories and better nutrition or blatantly, with private school tutors.The middle classes know the rules of the game even better, and have the money to play it – be it subtly, with bedtime stories and better nutrition or blatantly, with private school tutors.
More than four times as many grammar school pupils now come from private prep schools than the number entitled to free school meals.More than four times as many grammar school pupils now come from private prep schools than the number entitled to free school meals.
If 11-plus supporters really wanted to give children an equal chance in life, they would focus their attention towards the inequality that divides them as soon as they are born, in housing, health, and early-years education – a gap that leaves some with the world at their feet and consigns others to a life in poverty.If 11-plus supporters really wanted to give children an equal chance in life, they would focus their attention towards the inequality that divides them as soon as they are born, in housing, health, and early-years education – a gap that leaves some with the world at their feet and consigns others to a life in poverty.
Grammar schools are not the way to help working-class children. They are a symptom of an education system that is happy to discard them.Grammar schools are not the way to help working-class children. They are a symptom of an education system that is happy to discard them.