Labour would oppose the expansion of grammar schools if elected, the shadow education secretary has said.
Bridget Phillipson confirmed Sir Keir Starmer’s party would seek to block the creation of new selective schools and stop existing ones from taking on greater numbers of students.
Ms Phillipson insisted Labour would not seek to abolish any grammars but focus instead on improving standards in state education in England.
“I wouldn’t begin with a system that involves selection at 11, but we are where we are,” she told Times Radio.
“My priority as secretary of state wouldn’t be to see big structural upheaval in our schools, given the pressure that they’re under, but making sure that we do deliver a brilliant state education for every child in our country.
“We do not support expansion of grammar schools. I’m saying that we wouldn’t seek to significantly change the existing system that we have. But we absolutely oppose any expansion.”
Asked why she opposed the creation of new institutions, Ms Phillipson replied: “I don’t think that should be the priority. It should be about driving up standards in the schools that we already have.”
She revealed that a Labour government “won’t allow expansion to take place”, even where it is currently planned to do so.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls will soon take on an extra 30 pupils per year and replace two of its blocks of classrooms after Kent County Council approved an expansion worth £7.8 million in August.
Ms Phillipson also branded Rishi Sunak’s defence of tax breaks for private schools “indefensible” in the wake of his row with Sir Keir, the Labour leader, about aspiration at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
However, she added: “I think parents will choose to do what’s right by their children. I’m not suggesting we deny parents that opportunity.”
Labour railed against a planned selective education push by Theresa May under Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir’s predecessor, who claimed her plans were “divisive”.
“Grammar schools depress overall educational achievement and siphon off a few better-off children at the expense of the rest,” he said at the time.
There was anger in Conservative ranks last week after Mr Sunak abandoned plans to expand grammar schools that had been drawn up by Liz Truss, his predecessor.
Baroness Barran, a Department for Education minister, said the priority was ensuring an “outstanding education” for as many children as possible – regardless of their ability – “rather than creating more grammar schools”.
This came despite polling by the think tank Onward showing that two-thirds of Tory voters supporting grammars and almost half agreeing more should be built.
Backbenchers including Jonathan Gullis and Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, now hope to pressure Mr Sunak into an about-turn.
This appears to be the new template from the Tory supporting media…
> Labour won’t support [insert issue here]. The Tories also aren’t supporting [insert same issue]. But this is why you can’t vote Labour.
It’s depressingly transparent.
Grammar schools are the antithesis ro levelling up and to an equitable education system. They overwhelmingly benefit the middle classes which why the Tories support them. If league tables must exist, then grammars must have their own as comparing them to non selective schools is another injustice and inaccurate comparison.
I’ll accept that the current system of Grammar schools is broken, but I don’t agree that selective education is bad.
I have two sons – one achieved four A levels with outstanding grades and has gone on to university, the other has learning disabilities and is unlikely to achieve any academic qualifications.
The education they have received has been vital to both. And the idea that either of them would have their needs met in the same classes as the average student seems far fetched.
It’s a shame that no-one wants to implement a selective education system that provides the right level of education to kids based on their ability and needs, rather than tutoring and postcodes.
There’s still ability streaming in comprehensive schools. Grammar schools were essentially just the top set.
They even stream PE!
Once again Labour policy set by focus group. Can’t annoy the middle class parent voters. People are in for a shock once they actually get into power and start going back on their various promises.
The problem with grammar schools is that the idea was never fully implemented.
The idea wasn’t to have grammar schools for the best and throw the rest on the shit heap. It was to have a tiered education system with more practically focussed schools for kids more inclined that way.
This system exists across much of Europe and it works fine.
Typical of the UK to only do the bit to help the perceived top lot and neglect the rest .
7 comments
Labour would oppose the expansion of grammar schools if elected, the shadow education secretary has said.
Bridget Phillipson confirmed Sir Keir Starmer’s party would seek to block the creation of new selective schools and stop existing ones from taking on greater numbers of students.
Ms Phillipson insisted Labour would not seek to abolish any grammars but focus instead on improving standards in state education in England.
“I wouldn’t begin with a system that involves selection at 11, but we are where we are,” she told Times Radio.
“My priority as secretary of state wouldn’t be to see big structural upheaval in our schools, given the pressure that they’re under, but making sure that we do deliver a brilliant state education for every child in our country.
“We do not support expansion of grammar schools. I’m saying that we wouldn’t seek to significantly change the existing system that we have. But we absolutely oppose any expansion.”
Asked why she opposed the creation of new institutions, Ms Phillipson replied: “I don’t think that should be the priority. It should be about driving up standards in the schools that we already have.”
She revealed that a Labour government “won’t allow expansion to take place”, even where it is currently planned to do so.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls will soon take on an extra 30 pupils per year and replace two of its blocks of classrooms after Kent County Council approved an expansion worth £7.8 million in August.
Ms Phillipson also branded Rishi Sunak’s defence of tax breaks for private schools “indefensible” in the wake of his row with Sir Keir, the Labour leader, about aspiration at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
However, she added: “I think parents will choose to do what’s right by their children. I’m not suggesting we deny parents that opportunity.”
Labour railed against a planned selective education push by Theresa May under Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir’s predecessor, who claimed her plans were “divisive”.
“Grammar schools depress overall educational achievement and siphon off a few better-off children at the expense of the rest,” he said at the time.
There was anger in Conservative ranks last week after Mr Sunak abandoned plans to expand grammar schools that had been drawn up by Liz Truss, his predecessor.
Baroness Barran, a Department for Education minister, said the priority was ensuring an “outstanding education” for as many children as possible – regardless of their ability – “rather than creating more grammar schools”.
This came despite polling by the think tank Onward showing that two-thirds of Tory voters supporting grammars and almost half agreeing more should be built.
Backbenchers including Jonathan Gullis and Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, now hope to pressure Mr Sunak into an about-turn.
This appears to be the new template from the Tory supporting media…
> Labour won’t support [insert issue here]. The Tories also aren’t supporting [insert same issue]. But this is why you can’t vote Labour.
It’s depressingly transparent.
Grammar schools are the antithesis ro levelling up and to an equitable education system. They overwhelmingly benefit the middle classes which why the Tories support them. If league tables must exist, then grammars must have their own as comparing them to non selective schools is another injustice and inaccurate comparison.
I’ll accept that the current system of Grammar schools is broken, but I don’t agree that selective education is bad.
I have two sons – one achieved four A levels with outstanding grades and has gone on to university, the other has learning disabilities and is unlikely to achieve any academic qualifications.
The education they have received has been vital to both. And the idea that either of them would have their needs met in the same classes as the average student seems far fetched.
It’s a shame that no-one wants to implement a selective education system that provides the right level of education to kids based on their ability and needs, rather than tutoring and postcodes.
There’s still ability streaming in comprehensive schools. Grammar schools were essentially just the top set.
They even stream PE!
Once again Labour policy set by focus group. Can’t annoy the middle class parent voters. People are in for a shock once they actually get into power and start going back on their various promises.
The problem with grammar schools is that the idea was never fully implemented.
The idea wasn’t to have grammar schools for the best and throw the rest on the shit heap. It was to have a tiered education system with more practically focussed schools for kids more inclined that way.
This system exists across much of Europe and it works fine.
Typical of the UK to only do the bit to help the perceived top lot and neglect the rest .