Ed Balls’ salvo against grammar schools

Although he hasn’t quite stepped out and declared that he hates all existing grammar schools, Ed Balls’ latest speech contains the strongest clue yet that that’s how he feels. Here’s the relevant passage:

“I accept that selection is a local decision for parents and local authorities. But I do not accept that children in secondary moderns should be left to fall behind. Overall, secondary moderns are around twice as likely to be below the 30 per cent benchmark than the average school. I’ve heard first-hand how some of the young people starting in these schools feel on day one that they have already failed.”

So, in other words, grammar schools are to blame for secondary modern pupils feeling bad about themselves and not performing as well as they could do.

It’s quite remarkable that the minister in charge of our schools should attack an academically-successful establishment in this manner. It’s an argument which conveniently passes the buck for institutional failure onto any bastions of excellence.