guide to schools FTMarch 2014

Classroom politics | Private tuition | Sir David Bell | Choosing a school www.ft.com/schools

contents guide to schools 2014 03

Special reports editor Michael Skapinker Head of editorial content Hugo Greenhalgh Head of production Leyla Boulton Commissioning editors Adam Jezard, Jerry Andrews Production editor George Kyriakos Art director Sheila Jack 7 10 Sub-editors Liz Durno, Ian Moss, Philip Parrish Global sales director Dominic Good 4 introduction Global director of FT career The shifting politics of public management Steve Playford and private education Head of business education sales Sarah Montague 6 regional differences Account managers Sifting through the data to find Gemma Taylor, Ade Fadare-Chard out which parts of the United Publishing systems manager Kingdom do best – and worst Andrea Frias-Andrade Advertising production 7 teacher turnover 8 school hours Daniel Macklin Recruiting and retaining staff Would extending pupils’ days has become a contentious issue lead to better exam results? illustrations Paul Wearing 10 interview Schools shadow minister Kevin Brennan on what a Labour government would do in office

12 choosing a school What you should look for, from intellectual rigour and happy parents to sparkling toilets

13 private tutors 6 An influx of rich foreign parents has triggered a boom in tuition

14 opinion Sir David Bell on the true contributors meaning of parental choice ANDREW BAXTER is senior in education writer for FT special reports SIR DAVID BELL is vice-chancellor of the University of Reading SIMONEY KYRIAKOU is news editor of Financial Adviser Helen warrell is the FT’s public policy correspondent (education and home affairs) WARWICK MANSELL, JILL PARKIN and BIDDY PASSMORE are freelance journalists

ft.com/schools 49% Rise in real terms introduction of some private school fees, 04 2003-13

Classroom politics ➔ Helen Warrell on the public-private divide

ichael Gove, Soon after the education Vine expressed secretary, has this distinctly not been shy un-Tory view, the about reforming prime minister’s theM schools system during his wife, Samantha four years in office. But it may Cameron, was turn out that one of the most also reported to be significant decisions he has made in planning to send government has more her oldest child to to do with his role a state secondary in as a parent than as a Old boys club September 2015. One minister. Five out of the friend of the family was For when it six Conservatives quoted in the Daily Mail emerged this finalising the saying that Cameron month that Gove party’s manifesto wanted a “normal would be the first for the 2015 education” for her ever Conservative general election children, rather than a education secretary went to Eton rarefied or elitist one. to send his child to “You get to meet normal a state secondary children from normal school, it signalled houses… The children can that the ground was shifting in the be socially fluid,” the friend British establishment’s relationship reportedly said. with private education. For It is perhaps predictable that – an old Etonian Gove should express confidence often accused of 30 years after they in his own radical overhauls by being out of touch In some sectors, have left school. sending his daughter Beatrice to a with the electorate having been to It is almost as if state school – and, as it happens, on account of his in some jobs or one of the best in . But privileged education a prestigious sectors, having been more surprising were his family’s – the decision to independent to a prestigious reasons for doing so. send Nancy to a school is almost independent school is Sarah Vine, Gove’s wife, state school has a liability. explained in her column for clear political a liability Of course, the the Daily Mail that while the advantages. But decisions made state “doesn’t care where its it also reflects changing views by government ministers are pupils come from”, independent about the benefits and drawbacks not necessarily relevant to the education was, by contrast “about of private schooling. The recent dilemmas and deliberations snobbery”. revelation that five out of the six faced by most parents in the UK. “Of course the parents of private Conservatives who are finalising For a start, many would argue school children are paying for the the party’s 2015 manifesto that the prime minister and best teachers and facilities,” she attended Eton College shows education secretary are lucky to wrote. “But let’s be honest: they’re that for people in public life, have a choice of whether to send also paying for their child to mix educational provenance can be their children to state or private with the right kind of kids.” an uncomfortable subject, even schools. The steady year-on-year

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spanking-new buildings, strong discipline, sporting rigour and academic ambition.” Finally, Tatler’s reporter gets to the nub of the issue: “Best of all, when you do finally get into the Cabinet, everyone will love you because you didn’t go to Eton.” The key question is what this means for the school system. In the private sector, foreign parents are still willing to pay high premiums for a traditional British public school and increasing numbers of places are being taken by pupils from Russia, China and the Middle East. But to avoid desertion by local UK pupils, some schools are offering lower fees to British parents. In the state sector, meanwhile, competition for the best schools is only increasing – there were seven applicants per place at London’s Grey Coat Hospital school, where Gove’s daughter will go. The education secretary has vowed to break down the “Berlin Wall” separating private education from its state counterparts. With rises in independent school fees, lawyers and bankers – have seen more and more independent coupled with the effects of the only a 9 per cent rise over the schools such as Eton and downturn on family finances, mean decade, demonstrating a yawning Wellington College sponsoring local the middle classes are increasingly gulf between school fee increases state academies and free schools, it being priced out of the education and high-end incomes. appears it might finally be possible market and can no longer afford for So momentous is the resulting for some children to experience the their children the type of education migration into government-funded best of both systems. they may have had themselves. education that even Tatler, the Gove was clear, earlier this Recent research by the Financial high society journal, has started year, that this should be the aim. Times proves this point. While to include some of the country’s “My ambition for our education some private school fees shot up top state schools system is simple,” he by as much as 49 per cent in real alongside its annual told teachers. “When terms between 2003 and 2013, net list of the best in the Some public you visit a school in household earnings for the core independent sector. schools are England standards professional classes – engineers, “Is private really reported to be are so high all round solicitors and academics – superior? Not always, that you should not contracted in real terms by 1.7 per not any more,” reads thinking about be able to tell whether cent over the same period. an article in the cutting fees for it’s in the state sector Even the top 1 per cent of January edition. “The or a fee-paying earners – people such as doctors, state sector has some British pupils independent.” n

ft.com/schools regional differences

06 Compare and contrast ➔ Exam data make comparisons difficult – but some areas do better. By Andrew Baxter

pples and pears might have a higher proportion of come to mind socio-economically disadvantaged when comparing students, although he notes Pisa educational “tells you where you are but doesn’t attainment levels necessarily reveal why”. Ain England, Wales, Scotland and The Pisa results fuelled a Northern Ireland. It is not just that political debate in Scotland has its own examination The results Wales over educational system – the other three countries standards, which was all set GCSEs and A-levels but fuelled stoked by the latest have considerable leeway over the a political annual report from curriculum, how they run their Estyn, the Welsh schools and the information debate schools inspectorate. they publish about results. in Wales “Fewer than half of Parents and employers secondary schools are in England can access the good or better [than in the previous most information, as the year] and the proportion that is country’s Department unsatisfactory has increased from for Education remains one in seven to one in four,” it said. wedded to league Reform, including new literacy tables. Wales stopped and numeracy tests and better publishing league accountability, is under way, tables in 2001, but Welsh ministers warn but performance there are no quick fixes. information is The London-based Joint available through Council for Qualifications school prospectuses publishes exam statistics and, at a school level, for England, Wales and through the Welsh Northern Ireland. Overall, government’s website. 68.1 per cent of students Scotland publishes national achieved grades A*-C last information and local authorities year in their GCSEs, with publish their own statistics. Northern Ireland at 76.5 Northern Ireland also provides per cent, England 67.9 per national statistics and, following a cent and Wales at 65.7 per cent, freedom of information request, a and science skills. In the 2012 tests, although it narrowed the gap with local breakdown is available at The Scotland and England were ahead England slightly. Detail, an online investigation and in all three subjects and overall Arguably a more useful analysis service. performed similarly. Northern statistic, published in England and Fortunately, there are data Ireland was a little behind in all Northern Ireland, is the percentage for assessing the performance three disciplines, while Wales was of students gaining five or more of 15-year-olds. The OECD’s further back, having also performed A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent, Programme for International relatively poorly in 2009. but including English and maths. Student Assessment (Pisa) is a John Jerrim, a lecturer at the On this basis, Northern Ireland triennial international survey that University of London’s Institute increased its score from 60.1 per focuses on reading, mathematics of Education, suggests Wales cent in 2012 to 60.9 per cent last

ft.com/schools 07 year. In England, over a longer Teacher turnover period, the percentage for all schools rose from 53.5 per cent in ➔ Staff recruitment and retention spark a political battle 2010 to 59.2 per cent last year, or from 55.1 per cent to 60.6 per cent ew topics divide the world of being given autonomy, ensure “good for state-funded schools only. education like the recruitment teachers” are recognised, he said. For A-levels, where top Fand retention of teachers. Research by Nasuwt, the teaching universities are increasingly , education secretary, union, in 2012 found 53 per cent of focusing on A* and A grades, 26.3 is encouraging graduates into the teachers said job satisfaction had per cent of students overall made profession through schemes such fallen, while 54 per cent felt like leaving these grades in all their subjects as Teach First and Schools Direct. altogether. “The profession remains last year, with England recording But the government is also imposing on the verge of a national recruitment the same figure on its own, 30.7 per demanding achievement targets and and retention crisis. No one should be cent in Northern Ireland and 22.9 many head teachers are surprised that applications per cent in Wales. Overall, 52.9 per caught between a desire to ‘Consistent, for training are down cent of students achieved A*-B last hire the best and the need and resignations are up,” year and 77.2 per cent A*-C, but to manage a tight budget. outstanding says Chris Keates, general these percentages fall sharply if, Some teachers teaching is secretary. as in some of the English data, key are leaving, and the Alan Smithers, director “facilitating” subjects are included. government has the basis of the University of Meanwhile, Scotland last year noticed. In January, for good Buckingham’s centre ran its final Standard Grade exams, Michael Wilshaw, chief for education and (equivalent to GCSEs) before inspector of schools, outcomes’ employment research, these are replaced this year by the told the education select says: “The government National 4 and 5 qualifications. committee that it was a “national knows there is a problem, which is why Its Highers and scandal” that about two-fifths of its current policies aim to correct it. But Advanced Highers teachers leave within five years. the reasons people leave now were the remain, with Highers Bright spots But what constitutes “leaving”? same a decade ago: it is hard to maintain the main route into A point being debated in parliament a decent work-life balance, and the Applications for university. (A-levels is turnover (joining another school) continual, low-level disruption in some university from fall between the two versus wastage (going altogether). classrooms makes it difficult to teach.” 18-year-olds in in terms of difficulty.) Stephen Gorard, professor of Labour says there is a particular disadvantaged Pass rates at education and public policy at problem in languages, maths and areas reached their almost all levels rose Durham University, explains: “If physics but warns of the danger to highest rates this last year in Scotland, someone moves from a secondary pupils’ education of bringing in too year. Northern but Education school to a further education college, many inexperienced people, who Ireland was top at Scotland still has an this might be treated as wastage. [This] tend not to stay. 26 per cent, ambitious reform gives a misleading impression about Steve Robinson, executive head according to Ucas plan for post-16 an attractive profession, which is teacher at Birley Learning Community education. It says the pensioned and has cachet.” in Sheffield, says students’ education system is performing A must be paramount. “Consistent, strongly in several representative concurs. “Teaching has outstanding teaching, based on good respects but adds: “One key issue never been more attractive, with more pedagogy and excellent relationships holding us back is the strong link top graduates entering the profession in the classroom, are the basis for good between social background and than ever and vacancy rates at their outcomes for students. Anything that educational outcomes.” n lowest for eight years.” disrupts those relationships can be to Pay reforms, schools “choosing” to the pupils’ detriment,” he says. Data sources at www.ft.com/schools become academies and head teachers Simoney Kyriakou

ft.com/schools school hours

08 All eyes on the clock ➔ Would extending pupils’ day mean better exam results? By Warwick Mansell

onger school days and Asked by Marr shorter holidays are whether there would be the best promise any extra funding, Gove was political party could non-committal. “One make ahead of the next of the things that we generalL election, says a former top need to look at is exactly adviser to the prime minister. how it can be delivered Paul Kirby, former head of David appropriately,” he said. Cameron’s Number 10 Policy Unit, His suggestion would suggested in January that schools not be “mandated” from should open for longer. Parents the Department for could work full-time without Education (DfE). incurring childcare costs, he said, In evidence to the while results would improve, as the review body, Gove time was used for further study and cited Ark Schools, the extracurricular activities. London-based Michael Gove, the education chain. Academies, secretary, says he supports parts of semi-independent state the proposals. But how realistic, or schools funded directly worthwhile, would they be? by central government, In February, Gove was asked on can agree terms with the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show teachers. Ark sets for his views on Kirby’s suggestion teachers’ hours at an that state schools open 45 hours above-average 8am to a week, 45 weeks a year. Most 5pm. Alex Bigham, a now operate for 39 weeks, from spokesman for Ark, says 8.30am or 9am to between 3pm Programme for International this makes possible a school day and 3.30pm. “I don’t believe in Student Assessment (Pisa), which for pupils of 8.30am to 4.30pm, shortening the school holidays… tests 15-year-olds in reading, Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am but I do think that we do need to maths and science. There was no to 3pm on Friday. have a longer school day,” said Gove. significant correlation with OECD However, some newer Ark Many parents might see this as data on countries’ school hours. academies cannot offer extended attractive, but sceptics question Scores from the 2012 Pisa hours because they are slightly whether there is good evidence of maths tests put Singapore, Taiwan, less generously funded. “The DfE correlation between school hours South Korea and Japan in the top holds up groups such as Ark as and academic achievement. four. But OECD figures say that in positive models for the benefits of In evidence last June to the Japan and South Korea (statistics having a longer school day. But… School Teachers’ Review Body, for Singapore and Taiwan were the government does which oversees teachers’ contracts, not provided), lower secondary need to recognise Gove cited pupils in east Asia, who pupils get less teaching time than Test results show the additional costs do well in international tests and their counterparts in England. no significant that go with it,” says were “often learning for many more Many Japanese and South Korean Bigham. hours than their peers in England, teenagers attend after-school correlation with Teachers’ giving them a critical edge”. private “cram schools”, which do OECD data on contracts are The FT analysed country-by- not feature in the data, but the DfE another issue. David country results in the OECD’s does not advocate this. school hours Young Community

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Academy in Leeds, also cited by Gove wants this cap scrapped, and we want more Gove, runs extra sessions from but the review body rejects this, ‘We want more schools to use this 3pm to 4.35pm, four days a arguing it is sufficiently flexible and schools to use freedom.” week, including arts, sport and safeguards teachers’ workloads, the freedom to The DfE revision classes. Ros McMullen, with most working well beyond the says there is the principal, says this is possible formal 1,265 hours. vary the length evidence from because teachers’ contracted hours “The difficulty [for Gove] is that of the school day’ many countries are 8.15am to 4.35pm. if teachers are under national terms of variation in Teachers’ contracts in non- and conditions, schools will have no performance academy institutions (about half of way of implementing a scheme such between pupils who get different England’s state-funded secondaries as ours, beyond asking teachers to amounts of teaching. Some fast- and 90 per cent of primaries) volunteer,” McMullen says. improving countries in Pisa tests, limit formal hours to 1,265 a A DfE spokeswoman says: “We including , Turkey, Mexico year, equating to 8.30am to 3pm, have given all schools the freedom and some US states, have increased Monday to Friday, for 39 weeks. to vary the length of the school day their hours, it adds. n interview

Primary purpose ➔ Labour’s Kevin Brennan explains his post-Gove priorities for schools to Helen Warrell

ith just over a The conundrum is how to solve year to go until what Brennan describes as an 10 the next election, “accountability deficit” caused by shadow schools a lack of adequate oversight for minister Kevin schools and academies, which lie WBrennan is already considering outside local authority control. the challenges he will inherit if Describing the government’s Labour wins. thinking on this as “very vague” Aware that the conglomeration and “muddled”, Brennan promises of free schools, academies and that Labour’s solution will be set comprehensives has created a out in a review by David Blunkett, vastly different landscape from the party’s former education that left by the last Labour secretary. government, he surveys with Brennan says the aim is to avoid some trepidation what he calls the a situation where the secretary “Govean archipelago” of structures of state for education is in the put in place by education secretary “ludicrous position” of running Michael Gove. more than half of the secondary But as the only former teacher schools in the country. covering education on either the “There is no way that somebody government or opposition front in Whitehall can know what’s benches, Brennan considers going on in every school in every himself well qualified for the task part of the country,” he says. ahead – especially restoring trust Given the sensitivity around and confidence to a teaching restoring the role of local profession whose morale is “in the government in the management of cellar” after a long-running battle schools, Brennan admits the issue with Gove. is fraught with “all sorts of very, Top of his to-do list is sorting very difficult questions”. out the growing crisis in school “The problem for the places sparked by a birth-rate government is you can’t be the boom. “Our concern is that the and some authorities will face a Getting ready: promoter and the ideological government hasn’t been focused 20 per cent shortfall. Not only Kevin Brennan outrider for a policy like free on that as its top priority,” he says. is it difficult to conjure up extra says Labour schools and at the same time be… “It’s been very keen to pursue what capacity when budgets are tight, would tackle holding it to account and ensuring to us seemed to be pet projects but the issue could become toxic a crisis in that the standards are being met around things like free schools… for the party in power when the school places and the probity is there,” he says. rather than actually devoting the squeeze hits hardest. Unlike shadow education resources that are available to meet But the Welshman – who was secretary Tristram Hunt, who the places shortage”. children’s minister, third sector joined the opposition front bench He is not alone in voicing such minister and further education last year, Brennan has been on fears. According to the Local and skills minister in the last the shadow education team since Government Association, by government – is also concerned the coalition took power, and September 2015, almost half of about how to manage the free consequently has a long view of England’s school districts will have schools, which he says diverted the reforms. He recalls that one more primary pupils than places Gove from the places shortage. of his earliest fears about free

ft.com/schools schools has been their power to to continue its ideological mission country and you’d send your employ unqualified teachers – a to create a more competitive child to a Tesco school or to a subject that caused Hunt political education market by trying to Sainsbury’s school or to a Waitrose difficulty when it emerged he “float off” state schools to private school or Co-op school,” he says. had taught some primary school interests such as charitable trusts The shadow minister is keen to 11 lessons himself, despite criticising or profit-making entities – which resist such market liberalisation at unqualified teachers. has already happened any cost, arguing that it goes to the However, Labour is emphatic in Sweden, the home ‘We’ve seen heart of a Tory blindspot. that it would not allow teachers of the free school “I think it’s wrong,” he says. without proper qualifications into movement. this ideological “It doesn’t understand the the classroom. “[Schools] would experiment nature of education, it doesn’t Inevitably, the shadow schools then be run in the understand the motivations for minister is pessimistic about the same way that chains fail before… people involved in education… prospects if the Conservatives win of supermarkets are I think it will We’ve seen this ideological in 2015. He warns that a future run… in a branded experiment fail before and I think Tory administration would be likely way across the fail again’ it will fail again.” n Sir David Bell on the true choosing a school meaning of choice, p14

Beyond the prospectus ➔ Parents need to look hard to find the right place for their child, writesJill Parkin

alking into the a school than the league girls’ toilets tables. You may find – during a or be able to persuade secondary school parents you know to open evening, I organise – a “meet the Wfound two other mothers carrying parents” event. Parents out an inspection. whose children are “It says a lot about a school,” said already at a school get one, checking the locks. “Clean, together, often at a local dirty? Lots of soap? Sexual health primary school, to give advice notices: good or bad?” parents of prospective 12 “This roller towel’s very wet and pupils the lowdown on stuck,” said the other. “Yuck.” local state secondary So much is polished and laid schools. The idea started on for parents at open evenings in London two years that it can be difficult to know ago but is spreading what to look out for or ask. You across the country may have done the obvious checks, (meettheparents.info). such as inspection reports, exam The more you talk results and university success, but to parents of children sports trophies, art displays and already at a school, the smooth-talking headteachers can better. They can tell compromise your critical faculties. you the school’s teacher Jacqui Hanlon, a lawyer and retention record, for mother of four, knew just what she example. Pupil mobility wanted eight years ago, when the is also important: if family moved from Cambridgeshire children come and to Norfolk and she began looking go frequently, you for a school for her daughter AC Grayling has also visited the may worry about progress and Rebecca, who is now 15 and school to talk about ethics. friendships. studying for her GCSEs at “The school produces confident Helen Fraser, chief executive of High School for Girls. girls who are intellectually curious the Girls’ Day School Trust, which “We wanted intellectual rigour, and keen to engage in learning runs 26 independent schools in so of course we asked about beyond the curriculum. The England and Wales, says a child’s curriculum matters and homework, attitude towards girls and science is happiness is key. “Parents normally but the attitude to education is fantastic.” With teachers’ support, consider the overall excellence of more important,” she says. “In the Rebecca won a place the school – not just its academic end, it was the school’s approach to on a year 10 science Asking about results and league table position learning beyond the classroom that camp at the John Innes but its excellence in music, drama, sent her there and kept her there. Centre for plant science the extras may sport and art,” she says. ‘The opportunities have been and microbiology in reveal more “They also look at location amazing, about so much more than Norwich. and ask how easy a school is to Ucas [university entry] points. In In both independent about a school get to. They look at its university year nine, Rebecca had a two-week and state sectors, than the destinations and even at what its trip to India to study Hinduism asking about the extras alumni are doing. But the most and Buddhism. The philosopher may reveal more about league tables important question is: ‘Is this going

ft.com/schools to be the right school for my child? The jet-set tutors Will she be happy here? Can she be the best learner she can be?’” ➔ Influx of international pupils drives a boom in tuition If your child shows a particular aptitude, say in sport or science, he influx of rich foreign families tutor the children after school and you will obviously look at the to London – from the likes at weekends, as well as joining them provision in that area. It is also Tof Russia, the Middle East, on holiday. The tutor teaches them worth finding out about flexibility east Asia and southern Europe – has English and the subjects they’ll need in future GCSE combinations. triggered a boom in for Common Entrance, You may want to think even demand for places at top ‘Getting your such as science and further ahead. Parents visiting schools. That in turn is history, as well as giving Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls, causing rapid growth in child into a “cultural guidance”. The a multicultural comprehensive in the school placement top London cost for a year? About Ealing, west London, are told of its and tutoring services £50,000. 13 links with the world of work. A visit that help parents get day school It can be hard for from the head of the Law Society their children admitted. is extremely wealthy parents to under the Speakers for Schools “Until five or six years accept that a place at scheme, for example, led to pupils ago, the constituency difficult’ their dream school who wanted to work for the UN of London schools was cannot be bought, says meeting a lawyer who had done so. London. Now their constituency Guinness. “Many of the foreign families The school also emphasises is the globe,” says Susan Hamlyn, we deal with are used to paying a bit “enrichment days”, during which director of the Good Schools Guide more and getting things in a hurry.” students take part in workshops on Advice Service (GSGAS). Harry Williams of educational employability and teamwork. Wealthy foreign parents may not consultants Bruton Lloyd (catering to Back in Norwich, Town Close make a final decision to move to the wealthy parents mainly in Russian- School, a non-selective preparatory UK until their children have found speakers) also stresses the need for school for pupils aged three to 13, places at good schools, she adds. families to plan several years ahead if offers good Key Stage 2 results and Tutoring agencies and educational they can. And they should consider open days. But Nicholas Bevington, consultancies are growing, with more both boarding and single sex schools. the headmaster, also believes in opening in the UK and abroad. “We explain to them that most Twitter. On the pupils’ feed, we find Demand is reinforcing a trend of the top independent schools in one has enjoyed learning about the towards tutoring at a younger age. and around London are single sex Alps, while another loves playing Where tutors once focused on and that getting your child into a table tennis at lunchtime. GCSE and A-level, the emphasis in top London day school is extremely “We encourage prospective London is now on getting pupils into difficult,” says Williams. Bruton Lloyd, parents to follow the pupils on secondary schools. like BYT, sends its graduate tutors Twitter, because the children give “Preparing boys and girls for entry abroad to stay with families, as well as a wonderful insight into the daily to top secondary schools at 11 or 13 providing tuition in London. experience of studying at the school is our biggest market,” says Malachy The GSGAS package, starting and the breadth of the curriculum,” Guinness, director of Bright Young at £2,500, covers everything from says Bevington. Things Tuition. “Nearly 60 per cent of assessments to arranging interviews Whether your focus is on our work is now with foreign families.” with schools and introductions to the facilities or your child’s chance of a The company has set up BYT best tutorial agencies. prestigious science workshop, the International for families based “That means agencies with well- most important piece of advice is abroad. If there is time, they will send qualified, experienced tutors – not to go beyond the prospectus, to ask a tutor out for a year or more – to, jolly undergraduates who play polo,” and to talk – to teachers, parents, say, Moscow, Kazakhstan or Abu says Hamlyn. pupils and your own child. n Dhabi – to live with the family and Biddy Passmore

ft.com/schools opinion

Spoilt for choice ➔ A good school in every neighbourhood has to be the priority, says Sir David Bell

here are two subjects the closest school. Two-thirds think round struggling schools is the upon which the English the nearest families should have smarter political option. It was fixate – weather and priority but less than 40 per cent not the market that led to London school choice. The approve of moving to good schools’ having some of the best state former we can do little catchment areas. Half say parents schools. It was direct government Tabout but where to educate our have a duty to choose the best action, in the same way that children is in our hands. Or so the school; 60 per cent say they should ministers stripped an academy theory goes. balance it with other children’s chain of nearly a third of its schools Choice has dominated debate needs. Only 4 per cent last month. about education since the 1980s, say the top priority is There are There are no votes when “open enrolment” let parents lots of choice. in letting schools apply to any school. Enhancing So, parents are no votes in wither on the vine. choice has underpinned policy not hard-nosed, letting schools Allowing education since – from funding “following” calculating, rational to suffer in the pupils to league tables, targets economic automatons. wither on name of choice and and . The rationale Values matter. Debates the vine competition is not the is simple. Parents about choice in British way. want choice above education go to the Third, parents are all else. They heart of the British psyche still highly suspicious about profit- 14 are consumers about public services. making in state education, although and should be First, it seems parents every other aspect of a school’s treated as such. are not crying out for operation can now be outsourced. Yet despite unfettered competition. That is why school autonomy the rhetoric, In the main, they want a and rigorous accountability, geography and degree of choice but the decisive leadership and governance, income often best choice for their child high teaching standards, robust still dictate is a good local school. Of intervention in underperformers quality. Too course, some parents will pay and support from stronger many parents a premium to move near top providers are proven to be more feel let down, not schools. But would they if there effective and popular than simply empowered. The was a good local school? letting the market decide. solution, say some Second, parents do not want Some schools will always be rightwing thinkers, is to let to let the market decide when it oversubscribed, so we must make free enterprise rip. Families should comes to letting failing institutions sure that second choice does not get vouchers to “buy” education; go to the wall. Rows mean second class. The option to schools should be run for profit; over schools being send your child to a good school or there should be a free market The columnist forced to become a mediocre one is no choice at all. in providers; and failing schools academies show The right policy is often the must shut. Sir David Bell is that some parents simplest – a good school in But is it that simple? The vice-chancellor of will continue to every neighbourhood. When British Social Attitudes survey the University of back poor schools, politicians focus on that, rather reveals complex attitudes to choice. Reading and former guided by their than an abstract notion of choice Almost seven in 10 agree parents permanent secretary hearts as much as that often creates greater and should have a basic right to choose at the Department their heads. greater complexity in the system, a school. But more than 80 per for Education Directly education will be heading in the cent think children should go to intervening to turn right direction. n

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