Latest news & Grammar schools

Sunday, 17 June 2012 00:00

A full week at City Hall, attending Budget, Transport and Police and Crime Committees, as well as Mayor's Question Time on wednesday. The week of course was brought to a gloomy end with the news that Allders was going into Administration. The likely loss of this iconic store, and the accompanying loss of jobs is nothing short of a tragedy, and a commentary on these difficult financial times. I know that everyone will do what they can to try to find a way through this, with the Administrator.

The debate around Grammar Schools gathers pace after a lively Cabinet meeting on Monday. As an unashamed champion of Grammars, I spoke up in support of any potential Grammar in Croydon. The Advertiser asked me to write a few words on the subject. Bottom line is, in the last 40 years social mobility has stalled, aspirations of our disadvantaged plummeted, and you just have to look at the social results. Over the same timeline Grammars have been written out of successive Government's education policies. As the Yanks say, " Go Figure ".