MORE time is needed before it can be known whether keeping the 11-plus was the right decision. In the UK the Conservatives have now come out against selection, marking a dramatic shift from their past thinking.
Seven years ago the States decided to keep selection and invest in developing schools, including the Grammar School Sixth Form Centre and the College of Further Education.
‘We’re getting on with that. It’s very much about making sure all children have the same level of quality and facilities,’ said Education minister Martin Ozanne.
He added that there was no doubt a future States would consider the issue again, but not for some time.
‘I would like to see the completion of our schools and see how selection or not having selection is considered when all the standards and facilities of all our schools are the same. People can then decide whether it’s right to have the 11-plus, which decides whether pupils follow an academic or a vocational route.’
Deputy Ozanne put forward the proposal to abolish selection in 2000 when he was president of the Education Council.
Deputy Jean Pritchard was also in favour of scrapping the 11-plus.
‘It was thoroughly aired, really debated and the community got involved,’ she said.
‘It was an issue that had to be addressed before we went on with the proposed developments. I was on the Education Committee, but my views were in the minority in the House. We lost that debate and had to move on.’
Scrapping selection would have meant having one fewer secondary school, she added.
‘Keeping the 11-plus has cost more,’ said Deputy Pritchard.
‘I don’t like the system and what it does to young people at the age of 11 - particularly that feeling of failure. They are doing the schools development according to the States decision, but I think it’s wrong and I always will.’
Tory education spokesman David Willetts has said academic selection is unfair to poorer families and limited social mobility, arguing that the 11-plus is heavily weighted in favour of middle-class families.
The Conservatives do not go as far as saying existing grammar schools should be scrapped, but they have moved to support Labour’s academy system, arguing that it should be easier to set up and sponsor.
The academies are fee-free non-selective state schools which operate outside the control of local education authorities and have private sponsors.
Article posted on 17th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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