I am opposed to the Swindon Academy’s plans to introduce a “grammar stream” provision, which will mean academically selecting pupils in to a specialised provision. I am also very surprised that the Conservative Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and North Swindon, MP, Justin Tomlinson, are supportive of this scheme if they are against the reintroduction of grammar schools across the country.
The Swindon Labour Group have expressed his opposition to the Swindon Academy and Marlborough College’s plans to introduce a “grammar stream” in the academy. From September 2016 the Swindon Academy plans to introduce specialised provision for highly performing pupils, which will be determined by academy selection.
The Swindon Academy Head Teacher has said these “grammar stream” students will have the opportunity to maximise their potential in secondary education and receive the support they need to go on to the best universities.
The Swindon Academy’s plans for a “grammar stream” have been welcomed and supported by the Conservative Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Fionuala Foley and the North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson.
The Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Jim Grant, said: “I am opposed to the Swindon Academy’s plans to introduce a “grammar stream” provision, which will mean academically selecting pupils in to a specialised provision. I am also very surprised that the Conservative Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and North Swindon, MP, Justin Tomlinson, are supportive of this scheme if they are against the reintroduction of grammar schools across the country.
"I believe it's wrong that higher able pupils stand to get a better education than other students" – Cllr Jim Grant
The reason I am opposed to this scheme is a question of principle, but it’s also on practicality grounds.
On the question of principle, I am opposed to this for the same reason grammar schools started closed decades ago. I do not believe our children’s learning and future should be based on the results they obtained when they were 11 years old. I believe it is wrong that higher able pupils should stand to get a better education than other students and it goes against all the central tenets of every child matters.
I know the response I will receive from my Conservative inclined critics will be that this will only be a limited selection of 30 pupils and will help to boost the pupil numbers in the Swindon Academy that has hundreds of places vacant which impacts on their funding from government.
However let’s assume this “grammar stream” provision is successful and the Swindon Academy successfully takes in the town’s brightest pupils, rather than those pupils attending the secondary schools closest to where they live. Can we really expect Swindon’s other secondary schools who are under pressure to produce good results from their GCSEs not to consider their own “grammar streams” in order to retain the brightest pupils in their catchment area? Could we see in a decade a “grammar stream” type provision in all local secondary schools? That is the danger the people who support this scheme are running, so I think on practicality grounds if you are against the reintroduction of a two-tier education system, then we cannot support this grammar stream.
I would implore the Swindon Academy’s Governors to reconsider their plans and follow the fundamental principles behind our education system for the preceding decades, which is comprehensive education based on every child matters.”
Cllr Jim Grant
Swindon Labour Group Leader