Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

Let parents be the tsars

Slip some truth serum into Lord Adonis and, yes, I suspect he will admit the flaw in proposing new combined primary and secondary schools. Not that they won’t work, but because the idea that the politicians know how best to educate children has been tested to destruction. The Tory proposal would let new schools set up in the most poular formats – if there was a demand for new sprawling school, aged 5 to 18, it would be met. More likely the demand will be for small, manageable boutique schools of around 300 pupils, a third of today’s average size. For as long as poliicians are pontificating on exam structure, school size or teaching methods nothing will improve.

Adonis will also realise the absurdity in Ed Balls saying he wants local authorities to come up with a plan to turn around failing schools.

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