Comprehensive Isn't A Dirty Word

The Department for Education has stated that the majority of secondary schools in England are now academies or are in the process of seeking academy status. (For the purpose of definition: academies have local flexibility over staff pay and conditions.) So, when removed from accountability to local authorities or national standards, schools can pretty much do whatever they want as long as they don’t receive too many complaints and produce good grades. That may seem reasonable, but just because the grade average is of a high quality doesn’t make up for the underprivileged few who are continually left behind. If your son or daughter wasn’t up to scratch because they couldn‘t conform to that school‘s particularly individualised teaching methods, would you be content that at least your school had a nationally prestigious status? Would you have the time and energy to ‘shop around’ for an educational institution that was better suited to your child’s needs? At least the comprehensive system was equal for all and everyone had the same fair chance of success. Individual entrepreneurialism can be determined at college or university, when people rightly choose their subject options; prior to that everyone should be on an equal footing in compulsory education.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "It is only when schools have been under-performing for a number of years that the government steps in to ensure improvement”. So according to the government, over half of secondary schools were under-performing! That may be acceptable to a right-wing ideology, but a lot of parents and teachers are happy with their children’s education and wouldn’t want an overhaul of the system. Perhaps the government should leave schools alone for a while, let kids enjoy learning without the constant pressure of tests and exams, and let teachers enjoy teaching without the constant pressure of league tables and Ofsted repercussions. But then that wouldn’t suit the needs of capitalist competition and the desire to be superior, would it?!