Forget selection and focus on improving comprehensives

After the retreat on childhood obesity, the new government is consulting on selection by academic ability – an even more damaging policy. At least they are consulting, so there is a chance to bring some clear thinking to bear before final decisions are made. There seems to be near unanimity that selection is wrong, but so far the new Prime Minister seems unswayed, labelling her many opponents – professional and political – as hypocrites who have benefited from the system they now criticise. This is despite the fact that the new Secretary of State, Justine Greening, is herself a product of comprehensive education. It is difficult to see how Greening can support the policy, but perhaps that’s why the consultation is so thin – only nine pages to justify turning back the educational clock to the early 1950s.