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The Prosser Perspective.... a weekly column from Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser

19 June 2008

I don’t know what the opposite of ‘spin’ is but if there is such a word it could aptly apply to the manner in which the Schools Secretary made his announcement about the Government’s National Challenge program last week and his threat of school closures – he should have known better.

He could have lead by congratulating secondary school Heads, staff, governors, pupils and their parents on the way they’ve improved standards and added value – schools on Mr Ball’s list like Astor, Archers Court and Castle High.

He could have said that when Labour took office there were 1,610 schools failing to meet the standard of 30% of pupils achieving five good GCSE’s and that this Government’s school improvement strategy has reduced this to 638 and is aiming for zero.

And Ed Balls could have told us that the next phase of the National Challenge will focus £400 million of extra investment to support schools which were still striving to meet their target.

There were lots of other good things the Secretary of State could have said about the Government’s school improvement strategy but instead he resorted to naming the 638 schools and went on to say “Our expectation is that these schools that are stuck below the target will either close or be replaced by an Academy or a Trust”

It was inevitable that that the headline writers would pounce on the ‘closure’ word and give people the impression that their schools were about to close. In their various ways these specialist colleges have flourished and excelled, they are all capable of meeting the Challenge Target and I’m confident that none of these schools will close.

There’s no doubt that some of our schools have struggled to improve their exam performance over the years but anyone would struggle if they had one hand tied behind their back and schools in Kent are hampered and handicapped by Kent County Council’s selection system.

In most of the rest of the country where selection has been abandoned, the comprehensive schools compete more or less equally to attract children of academic ability – children who might be expected to perform well and achieve and exceed the requirement of five higher level GCSEs.

But the process of selection creams off the top quarter of children and Dover ’s system of double selection deprives our non grammar schools of as much as 40% of the high achievers putting our High Schools at a severe disadvantage. This is not just a view or an opinion, it is stark reality and it might explain why David Cameron has stopped promoting grammar schools and Conservative controlled KCC is now blaming Kent ’s poor education results on selection.

What’s so damaging about the way the Minister’s message was portrayed is that Astor, Archers Court and Castle High have worked their socks off to raise standards, instil confidence and enhance their reputations but these hard fought attributes, inspired by strong leadership are all too easily undermined by careless words and Mr Balls should have known better.