Why did we begin phasing out Grammar Schools?

Grammar schools give bright students from middle- and working-class backgrounds a much better education, in some cases comparable to fee-paying schools.

Since banning grammar schools, Oxbridge intake from state schools has decreased.

We all know that your postcode determines your education. House prices in the areas around Grammar schools are particularly high, stopping poorer students from attending.

Please tell me why the left was so eager to destroy this last bastion of social mobility? Was it their constant desire to pander to the lowest common denominator? Do the gifted students need to slow down to make sure those unwilling to learn are not left behind? Why does the left count replacing selection by examination with selection by parents' income as a victory?

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 1

Veggiechic6

This kind of thing needs to be in the 'Educational Debate' forum.

Reply 2

PsychoticWiz

Essentially, the Left see Grammar schools as another means of advancing the white middle class to the detriment of working class pupils. The majority of Grammar school pupils are white middle class and by taking these students out of standard comprehensive schools, the education of the majority is negatively affected. For example, most teachers would prefer to teach in Grammar schools as it gives them the opportunity to have in-depth debates about wider issues within classroom discussions, thus creating an issue in Comprehensive schools as they are left with less passionate teachers. Social mobility in context of Grammar schools was virtually non-existant by the end of its era as white middle class pupils were in a better position to gain places at these schools. The left therefore decided that it would be better to improve State eduction for everybody rather than helping the elite few.