Lords to debate grammar schools and selective education
Members of the House of Lords, including Lord Blunkett, former Secretary of State for Education and Employment, Lord Knight, former Minister of State for Education and Skills, Lord Storey, former head teacher, and Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Executive Director of the Girls' Schools Association, will debate the Government's proposals for the extension of grammar schools, and selection in education, on Thursday 13 October.
The debate will be opened by Baroness Andrews, founder and former director of Education Extra.
Speaking ahead of the debate, she said:
“I am extremely pleased to be given an opportunity to have an early debate on the propositions set out in the White Paper, Schools that work for everyone.”
I will want to explore the role and impact of grammar schools, whether there is any evidence that they close the attainment gap between rich and poor children across the community; if there is any evidence that they promote social mobility; and why, having been scrapped by both parties over half a century ago, they are now seen as the solution for a country facing unprecedented change and risk.”
“I shall want to ask what has gone wrong with the past seven years of Conservative education policy that only grammar schools can put right?”
“I believe that a country facing globalisation outside the European Union needs, above all, to invest in ALL its children from the earliest age, and to invest in the best teaching and learning strategies INSIDE existing schools.”
Other Members scheduled to speak include:
Lord Addington
Lord Bilimoria
Lord Blunkett
Lord Bragg
Lord Cashman
Lord Framlingham
Lord Giddens
Baroness Humphreys
Lord Knight of Weymouth
Bishop of Norwich
Lord Paddick
Lord Pendry
Lord Puttnam
Lord Storey
Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Lord Triesman
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Maiden)
Lord Watson of Invergowrie
Viscount Younger of Leckie will respond on behalf of the Government.
