All schools, State as well as private, should be allowed to select their own pupils

All schools, State as well as private, should be allowed to select their own pupils

26 Feb 2006

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A distinguished panel considers the advantages and disadvantages of allowing all schools - not just independent schools - to choose their own pupils.

Speaking for the proposal are Chris Woodhead and Dr Martin Stephen, and endorsing it is Lord Tebbit. Chris Woodhead begins by stating the future depends upon education, and asks why headteachers should not be allowed to make a professional judgement on which pupils they think will prosper at their school. He argues that working class children are losing out and that educational standards for the disadvantaged need to be raised. Dr Martin Stephen notes that gifted students are just as much 'special needs' as the least able children, and that greater results could be achieved by grouping similarly-able children together. Lord Tebbit endorses the motion by stating that the current "one size fits all" system of education does not work, and that middle class families currently have disproportionate access to the best educations because they can buy houses in the right catchment areas. He suggests that we should denationalise schools and let them run themselves.

Arguing against the proposal are David Blunkett MP and Fiona Millar, and endorsing it is William Atkinson. David Blunkett begins by suggesting that allowing schools to choose their pupils would create chaos, and that schools are already improving with help from the Government. Fiona Millar supports David Blunkett by pointing out that the current schools are performing better now than the selective schools of the past, and that equal systems, like the one in Finland, have the best results, whereas countries with selective systems, such as Germany, are performing poorly. William Atkinson voices his concerns that selection in schools is too often about some schools acquiring a disproportionate number of the best students, and that no one wants to choose the disadvantaged children - the ones that need the most help.

First Vote: 339 For, 200 Against, 152 Don't Know.

Final vote: 451 For, 202 Against, 48 Don't Know.

Motion Carried.