GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

talk about mental health, but constant testing affects the mental wellbeing of

some children who struggle to attain what is required of them. They choose

not to connect the pressure that children and young people are put under with

SATS and the 11 plus or equivalent will be another factor to the mental

wellbeing of children who fail. There is a lack of logic when the Government

says it gives greater choice to parents. It is the school that gets selective, not

the parents. Contrary to the Government’s view, grammar schools do not level

the playing field for children from a poorer background when competing with

those who can finance additional tuition or select housing areas etc.

The current proposals will lead to further social segregation based on

socioeconomic class, as it favours the middle class who are able to play the

game at the expense of potentially 80% who will go to nonselective schools.

There is a lack of any robust evidence for the positive impact of grammar over

mixed ability schools and the focus should be on replicating the conditions in

school where they are performing well. We believe the Government should

withdraw its proposals for grammar schools and work with organisations across

the sector, including unions and professional bodies, and, indeed, its own

commissioned research, in order to provide the better outcomes for all children

and young people. We need to continue to promote well-funded

comprehensive schools with broad and balanced curriculum, appropriate for all

pupils, taking into account their differences in ability and learning styles, as well

as trained teachers and a positive ethos on fairness and equality which will

serve all our children well. This may be a better way to increase both social

mobility and social cohesion and provide the best education for all our children.

The Government has now said that the DFE will not publish the grammar

schools white paper until after the election, if they win. They will then say, of

course, that it gives them a mandate.

So, brothers and sisters, let me call again upon this conference to oppose this

increase in selection and the provision of new grammar schools at the end of

key stage 2 which, contrary to the Government’s rhetoric, will not provide

greater choice for parents, will not increase social mobility, but will detrimentally

60