Cameron is being clever on education

The old Etonian leader of the Conservative Party and his public school shadow cabinet colleagues are being very clever in standing up to party members over grammar schools.

Cameron is presenting himself as a man of the people, even using the same words as Tony Blair 'Better education for the many, not the few.' But don't be fooled. He is only looking to make things even better for the elite.

At the moment, we are told, the wealthier parts of our society can afford to groom their children so they pass the 11 plus and get a grammar school place and education that is among the best in the country. Of course, unlike Eton, even grammar schools can't guarantee five shadow cabinet posts.

Now Cameron is saying he doesn't want to promote grammar schools because they are socially divisive and populated mainly by kids from advantaged backgrounds (unlike public schools, presumably). He wants to extend city academies and technical schools so everyone can get a fair chance.

Sounds good. But he then goes on to say that he wants to extend choice to parents. If he succeeds it will certainly mean that rich parents of kids who are not even bright enough to coach through the 11plus will be able to get their offspring into the best schools. We already know that those who can afford to move near the better performing schools are doing so and you can rest assured that would be the least they would do to make sure their little Johnny or Jane didn't end up in a bog standard comprehensive with the kids from the council estate.

Improving every child's chances of a good education is an ideal no one could argue with but it will only be achieved by attracting inspirational teachers (so you'll have to pay them decent money), reducing the size of the classes, and persuading those parents in the disadvantaged areas of our country that education really is the best way out, so they get behind the kids and help them.

It was how it used to be. The working class's main ambition was for their children to have a good education. It seems that has been lost - probably because they now feel they don't have the chance of sharing in what the wealthy take for granted.

Saltaire Sam