SOME venerable institutions appeared to be under attack recently – the grammar schools.
The debate about the value of grammar schools will no doubt continue, even though David Cameron has made it clear that there is no threat to existing schools.
Buckinghamshire is an example nationally because so many parents care passionately about the standard of education available to pupils.
If there were to be this level of passion and involvement in every county and city in England, there would be fewer young people leaving primary or secondary schools without reaching their full potential.
We need action on literacy, numeracy, discipline and behaviour, to enable pupils to acquire the skills they will need throughout their adult lives. Education is the key to tackling social deprivation and to ensuring that whole families are not trapped in poverty from generation to generation.
No child should have to learn in an atmosphere of anarchy. Headteachers need to know that they are in control of their schools.
There is no reason why successful schools should not be able to expand to meet demand, nor why new schools should not be created.
There is room within the educational system for new ideas like the city academies, which can respond to the educational needs of their pupils. At the moment, our education system is based on geographical areas, but there is no reason why educational charities could not provide a network of schools across the country.
The debate is bound to continue, but parents who care deeply about the future of their children should not be fearful that good schools will be penalised.
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