100 years of Southend High School For Girls

Last Friday evening, I set foot in a grammer school for the very first time in my life. The event was the broadcasting of BBC Radio 4's live political debate programme Any Questions. A major event in the Southchurch political scene.

The panel consisted of John Redwood MP, Norman Lamb MP, Maria Eagle MP and Billy Hayes - CWU General Secretary. The questions covered the current political headlines, Royal Mail privatisation, Union links with the Labour Party, HS2 and food banks.

The broadcast was also part of the High School's centenary celebrations to mark its founding.

For many years, I was opposed to the Grammar system in Southend on the grounds that by creaming off the better abled pupils all the other secondary schools would suffer, particularly in the league tables. However, these days I have more mixed feelings towards the Grammer Schools and accept that their academic discipline is well suited to the brighter child. For those children who will not benefit from their academic hot-housing approach, or those who wish to take more vocational based studies, I feel they will be better catered for in other schools.

I resent the way in which the Labour Party abandoned its opposition to the Grammer system, which was derailed by political stunts by Blair and Harman in sending their children to selective schools. New Labour then adopted the mantra of "parental choice", in seeking the votes of the sharp elbowed middle classes, for whom only the best school is good enough for their children never mind other children in their community. The then Government brought in a ridiculous policy of parental ballots which were stacked against those seeking the introduction of comprehensive education in their communities. Since that time the abolition of grammer schools has been completely taken off the political agenda.

We should not forget that the Southend Grammer Schools have been permitted under various iniatives, such grant maintained status and academy status, to effectively move out of any control by the local education authoity and therefore democratic accountabiliy to the community. They now control their own entrance criteria and have formed a consortium to conduct the 11+ entrance exams. The result of this is, now only 1 in 4 grammer school places go to children who reside in Southend.

So, we have the undefying spectacle of publically funded, state schools who have been allowed autonomy from any democratic oversight from the local community or by elected representatives. I normally laugh with derision when a Tory, and more recently an Independent Councillor, whinges on about the lack number of places given to Southend children in the grammer schools. They are the fools that that let the Grammers get away with it!

I congratulate the Southend High for Girls on its centenary. You've played a blinder in securing the  future for selective education in Southend for, probably, the next 100 years.