GUEST COLUMN: Grammar schools...have we gone back in time? by Mark Cottingham, Shirebrook Academy principal

Mark Cottingham, who begins work this term as principal of Shirebrook Academy, in Common Lane, Shirebrook.

OK, this is an exaggeration, but it isn’t an exaggeration to say that if it goes ahead, in my opinion there will be open revolt among teachers and I, for one, will have no choice but to leave the profession completely.

Grammar schools were introduced via the 1944 R.A. Butler Education Act to supply post-war Britain with middle managers for the expanded civil service and expanding service sectors by giving the top ten per cent a classical, academic education to equip them for A-levels and university.

The 90 per cent who failed their 11-plus, meanwhile attended secondary moderns to learn the three Rs and subjects necessary to prepare them for getting their hands dirty working in the mining, steel, textiles and car-making industries.

It was drastic, but they were drastic times – and a world away from the 21st century that we need to prepare all of our children for.

I am instinctively wary of the Government’s latest plans for education, but I do try to see the advantages. On this occasion, I cannot see one thing in favour of it. It’s just wrong.

Firstly, there is no logic to segregating children at the age of 11 and no successful education systems in the world do it.

Intelligence is not fixed - all children can improve and learn through education and they do so at different rates, meaning their best learning years could still be ahead of them.

The idea will divide society, not unite it, and supporters of grammar schools are simply missing the big picture.

To re-introduce grammar schools, you also have to re-introduce reintroduce secondary modern schools, where there is a 90 per cent chance of their children ending up.

And if they pay for private tuition then the entry criteria is down to buying power, not brain power. This is wholly unfair.

The idea to reintroduce grammar schools is so unpopular that even the former education secretary, Michael Gove, who knows a thing about introducing unpopular initiatives to the classroom, is against it. It would be a massive step backwards for modern day Britain which is why - and I never thought I would say this - when it comes to grammar schools, I’m with Michael Gove on this one.