Addressing delegates at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Manchester, Burnham said a child’s "postcode rather than their potential" determines where children end up in life.
Vowing to rally against elitism, he said the previous Labour government did not do enough to extol the virtues of the comprehensive system.
"Our big challenge is to show how comprehensive can be aspirational," he said. "My mission in this job is to rehabilitate it – the values are good. It is about having a plan for everyone rather than just a few but also rethinking it for new times.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
