Grammar Correction

There has been some recent discussion on David Cameron’s policy to rescind Conservative party support for further Grammar schools. Mr Cameron says the Conservatives will ‘never be taken seriously by parents’ so long as the party backs selection.

There have been a number of justifiably angry squawks from the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail, and an equally numerous number of whinges from Mr Cameron and his supporters who believe that majority of Conservatives should just back down on this issue.

Team Cameron think that because they, along with some unaccountable and nefarious policy group, in their infinite wisdom dreamt up the new policy, they are automatically right and we should not dare to question their judgement.

The Conservative party, which is supposed to be meritocratic, but whose Shadow Cabinet and associated periphery is curiously stuffed full of old Etonians, are effectively denying the academically bright to fulfil their potential and the less able a helping hand. Having said that, Mrs Thatcher, a Grammar school striver of the past, was, along with her previous Conservative governments, one of the main instigators in the decline of the two-tier system – so in part, David Cameron’s policy is merely a continuation of a gradual trend.

Clearly though, David Cameron does actually believe in selection – in the sense that he has been quite selective on which campaign pledges he has chosen to follow through or not. He promised to take the Conservatives’ European contingent of MEPs out of the federalist European People’s Party grouping during his leadership bid – I think the phrase used was ‘immediately’. Of course, that failed to materialise and is now supposedly set for June 2009. However, he appears to have chosen to adamantly follow through on the ‘no to grammar schools’ policy initiative.

Cameron and his increasingly dubious cortège of advisors seem to believe that in order to really be electable, the party must jettison all existing ideological ‘baggage’ and pick a fight with the traditional right of the party in an attempt to distance themselves from the ‘extremes’ and appear more ‘moderate’ to the electorate.

Although this could potentially be a rather clever ploy; by leaving the door open for a tiered system similar to Grammar schools but named differently and where late developers have the opportunity to go between schools – I suspect it is not. I think that the Notting Hill set and Cameron’s metropolitan Islington liberal entourage (that now seem to wield an unfortunately increasing influence within the Conservative party,) genuinely believe what they are doing will get them into office quicker. However, is that best for Britain’s children?

The one size fits all educational system has been failing for decades, but despite declining standards, the steady-as-she-goes attitude still appears prevalent. In a quest for his own ‘Clause IV’ moment, David Cameron is potentially sacrificing our children’s future – and I think that some people’s patience is wearing increasingly thin.