Friends of Grammar Schools

By James Kirkup

Political Correspondent

224 words

Publication date: 28 October 2009

Source: The Daily Telegraph Page: 10 (c) 2009 Telegraph Group Limited

A TORY row over grammar schools is expected to reignite with plans to expand selective schools.

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, has opposed any expansion of grammar schools, angering many Tory activists and MPs.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has also banned the expansion of the 164 remaining grammar schools in England. But Tory-held Kent County … Continue Reading

663 words       Publication date: 17 October 2009

Source: The Daily Telegraph   Page: 27

(c) 2009 Telegraph Group Limited, London

Britain has the best schools in the world. They produce highly-educated pupils who go to the best universities in the world, which also happen to be in Britain. Put that way, you wonder what all the fuss was yesterday when a report into primary education once again inspired an outpouring of national breast-beating about the state of our schools. The problem, of course, is that while we have the best schools in the industrialised world, we also have some of the worst. The … Continue Reading

Zoe Brennan and Jack Grimston

1174 words     Publication date: 18 October 2009

Source: The Sunday Times     Page: 9

(c) 2009 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved

This is possibly the first revolution to have started over lasagne and salad. It’s certainly the first revolution ever to have affected Acton, in suburban west London, one warm September evening.

Over nibbles at the home of Toby Young, the writer, a small group of disgruntled mothers and fathers gathered to exchange stories of astronomical private-school fees, frustrating state-school catchment areas and disgraceful class sizes. As the lasagne was served, a new militancy swept through the room. They would … Continue Reading

By STEVE HAWKES Business Editor

410 words       Publication date: 14 October 2009

Source: The Sun          Page: 23

(c) 2009 News Group Newspapers.  All rights reserved

THE boss of Tesco yesterday slammed the Government’s record on education – saying school standards were “woefully low”.

Sir Terry Leahy said teachers were drowning in red tape and firms were “left to pick up the pieces” with school leavers.

He urged ministers to ditch the bureaucrats and agencies issuing “reams of instructions” to schools and allow them to concentrate on lessons.

Sir Terry, who is chief executive officer of the supermarket giant, said: “As the largest private employer in the … Continue Reading

Simon Doyle, Education Correspondent   292 words

Publication date: 1 October 2009 Source: The Irish News

Page: Pg. 14 (c) 2009, The Irish News Ltd.  All Rights reserved.  

More than half of GCSE mathematics pupils at non-grammar schools are failing to scrape a C in their exams, a new report has found. 

The ‘Stem’ (science, technology and mathematics) review was commissioned two years ago against a backdrop of falling … Continue Reading