How to reform English schools

It is pleasing that St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington has backed down in the face of legal action and has allowed pupils threatened with exclusion to complete their A-level studies (see footnote 1). However, the incident is really a symptom of the terrible mess that successive Conservative, New Labour and Coalition governments have made of education since 1979.

Still no clarity from Starmer

I tuned in to Andrew Marr’s programme last Sunday hoping to get some clarity on Labour’s position on Brexit – but no such luck.  To make matters worse Sir Keith has made a pig’s ear of the Opposition Day debate, which has only succeeded in confirming the Government timetable, resulting in  headlines such as “Parliament endorses Brexit”.

Labour SHOULD demand a second referendum

It pains me to say this, but the LibDems have got a better (and clearer) policy on Brexit than the Labour Party.

The LibDem leader has reiterated that his Party (all 8 of them) will vote against Article 50 unless the expected legislation is subject to a second referendum on the terms of Brexit.  Presumably he is assuming that the Supreme Court will dismiss the Government’s appeal, and that, if a second referendum goes against the terms, the Article 50 Notice can be withdrawn before it finally takes effect.  Lawyers disagree amongst themselves on this, but Article 50 doesn’t say that it can’t be revoked, and the normal rule is that what is not forbidden is permitted. So Mr Farron’s assumption is probably correct.

By contrast, the Labour Party is in a muddle on the issue - with different spokespersons saying contradictory things and the official front bench shadow minister (Keir Starmer) failing to clear up the confusion.

Portsmouth Labour Party’s AGM elections

It is very good that candidates for posts in Portsmouth LP are putting their statements on the Party’s Facebook discussion forum.  However, not all candidates are on Facebook, nor are all members in the discussion forum, so although this initiative is very welcome, it is a poor substitute for a properly organised electoral process.  What really ought to happen is that the EC should circulate to all members copies of the candidates’ CVs and personal statements. 

Grammar school failures

In the current discussion of the merits or otherwise of grammar schools there is one important point that is rarely mentioned.  In fact I have not noticed anybody saying it.  This is the fact that many pupils were (and probably still are being) actually damaged by being subjected to an academic education that  does not suit them – and they end up as “grammar school failures” – with long-lasting practical and psychological consequences.

The Solent Deal is bonkers

We should be grateful to Councillor Stephen Morgan for exhorting us to respond to the consultation on the Solent Devolution Deal.  In case you missed it, the “deal” is described at http://www.solentdeal.co.uk/further-information/ .  However, although it is supposed to be a consultation,  I couldn’t find anything about it on the Portsmouth City Council website, and eventually I found a link on the Southampton City Council website, which also points to http://www.solentdeal.co.uk/.  ¹ (see footnote)

At the same time Hampshire County Council is consulting on a different series of options, including a different “Solent” area;  and various Hampshire district councils are also carrying out their own consultations on different proposals.

So it seems to be a bit of a mess.

Charlatan?

As I watched Owen Smith on the television this evening the word that came to my mind was “charlatan”.

I voted for Jeremy Corbyn last year, but in the light of all the criticisms from his PLP colleagues, I was prepared to listen to the arguments of his opponent with an open mind.  I was sadly disappointed.