Guests at The Spectator’s schools conference on Thursday arrived via the stunning grounds of Westminster School (above), one of the best not just in the country but the world. It was fitting setting. The great irony about the British schools debate is that while our state schools may languish at 25th place in the global rankings, our private schools are first. It’s not as if Britain can’t do teaching: we can, better than anyone. What we can’t seem to do is expand what’s good. Michael Gove’s Academies Act allowed any private school to open a state school and expand — but they have been slow to respond.
Now Westminster School has teamed up with the Harris Federation to open a sixth form which will educate 250 pupils for free. It will be academically-selective (free schools can be, at sixth-form level) and it is an example of the way to save British education.
As I argued in my
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