MP keeps quiet on return of secondary modern

I SEARCHED Graham Brady MP’s article (“Grammar schools can lead the Gove revolution”, Yorkshire Post, January 12) but nowhere can I find a call for the return of secondary modern schools, but that is precisely the corollary of his campaign to have grammar schools back.

If Mr Brady were to succeed, the consequence would be once again the implicit branding of the 80 per cent who do not go to grammar schools as failures, with inevitable social consequences. Education is not solely about academic success but is also important in its contribution to community solidarity.

Separating 20 per cent of children out on academic grounds – even though there is no accepted method of doing so accurately at the age of 11 – will once again produce more anti-social behaviour amongst those who see themselves excluded from opportunities to advance themselves.

Mr Brady will no doubt then bemoan the decline in values and demand even more draconian measures against such youths.

From: Geoffrey F. Bryant, Queen Street, Barton-on-Humber.

“GRAMMAR schools can lead the Gove revolution”, Conservative MP Graham Brady (Yorkshire Post, January 12); “Should new grammar schools be built?” – Yes 15 per cent, No 85 per cent (Question of the Day, Yorkshire Post, January 13). Surely, some people badly off-message.