Last week the Government published its green paper on
education. The document ‘Schools that
work for everyone’ consults on a number of key reforms designed to make the
education system fairer for all.
The headline announcement from the green paper are the
proposals for new schools that select pupils according to aptitude, often
referred to as grammar schools.
I welcome this review as I have for some time held the view
that our education system needed to be broader and offer more choice and
diversity for families. Every child is different and I think it is right that children
are encouraged to learn and grow in an environment and atmosphere that works
best for them, both at home and in school. It follows then that we should be
open to considering that children who demonstrate a more academic aptitude
should have their talent nurtured in an academic environment, while those more
vocationally gifted should be able to learn in schools that focus on their
talents.
Critics of grammar schools point out that they create what
they consider a ‘two tier’ education system. However, in a way this already
exists as those with enough money are able to send their children to private
education. Additionally, as things stand, we have a situation of selection by
house price with the best schools only accessible to those families able to
afford to live in the catchment area. I have no objection in principle with
allowing children to develop and learn in a school and through ways of teaching
that are best suited to them. If a sensible model comes forward from this
consultation I would certainly carefully consider it.
However, along with these positive changes, as ever I must
think about how they impact on us in Mid-Cornwall. In largely rural settings
such as we find across Cornwall, there is a question over whether pupils living
in rural locations would have suitable choices when educated in a system like
this. Making sure that all areas, whether rural or urban have fair access to all
types of education would be crucial in gaining my support for any proposals of
this nature.
Another issue that I would seek reassurance on before
deciding whether to support these measures is that of continued funding equality
across the education system. I would seek confirmation that all schools would
continue to receive equal funding based on pupils and not the type of school. I
would not support a system that saw resources unfairly directed at any
particular type of school.
Additionally, this review provides another opportunity to
make the case for fairer funding of education, in order to address the current
inequality that sees Cornish schools receive hundreds of pounds less per pupil.
This is something I was pleased to raise with the new Education Secretary in
Parliament last week.
Our children are our most important asset and it is crucial
that we give them every opportunity to get on in life. A reformed education
system that works for everyone is a good step forward. I think we can be
positive about this consultation but as ever need to ensure that the Government
gets it right for Cornwall.
