Letter: The Loss of Our Grammar Schools Has Had a Detrimental Impact

Published on: 12 Oct, 2019
Updated on: 13 Oct, 2019

Fiona Boulton chair of the Headmasters’ Conference

From Valerie Thompson

In response to: Guildford High School Head Marks Labour Plan To Abolish Private Schools As A Fail

Private schools were often founded by rich benefactors. Many individuals have contributed to support them over the years.

The pupils who attend have parents who can afford high fees. So why should such schools open their gates to non-paying children?

If they can afford to offer meaningful scholarships, from funds built up over the years, to suitable children whose parents cannot afford the fees all well and good. But why should parents, who may be scrimping and saving on their homes, cars and holidays to send their children to the schools they believe will give the best education, be expected to pay more money in order for other children to benefit from private education?

The destruction of grammar schools (I was at Guildford County Grammar School) was the worst thing that could happen to the poorer, bright and able children.

There has been criticism of these schools as people now think they did not encourage social mobility. This was quite untrue in my experience as the daughters of tradesmen or solicitors, or any other working parents, were treated both by staff and by their peers as equals.

Similarly the loss of technical colleges and the emphasis on 50% of children being directed, whether suitable or not, to universities has led to a huge hole in the supply of people with abilities in trades.

The failure of secondary schools to offer the all-round education we received, both academic, sporting, artistic and mundane, such as sewing or cooking is a disaster. Far too much energy is put into purely academic subjects, which many children cannot manage.

Modern theories of education has led to many bright children becoming bored as their classmates keep them back from progressing at a rate to which they are more suited. This results in fewer children from these schools being able to become captains of industry and high-fliers in every field and leaves the way open to the much-condemned preponderance of people from public schools having the greatest influence in Britain.

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