MP opposing new grammars sent children to ... grammars!
THE Tory MP leading the charge against new grammar schools has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged that his three children benefited from a selective education.
Neil Carmichael, chairman of the Commons’ education select committee, has warned that Theresa May’s plan for more grammars was an ‘unnecessary distraction’.
In a critical report published earlier this week his cross-party group claimed ministers had failed to demonstrate that creating a new wave of selective schools will help close the achievement gap between rich and poor children.
But Mr Carmichael, who is MP for Stroud in Gloucestershire, yester- day faced embarrassment as he admitted he had sent all three of his children to grammar schools.
His twin daughters attended Stroud High School close to his home, while his son went to Marling School, the neighbouring grammar school for boys, where Mr Carmichael, 55, was chairman of the governors.
Earlier this week, as his committee published its report criticising plans for more grammar schools, the MP said: ‘If the Government wants to push ahead with new grammar schools it must demonstrate how this aids social mobility and improves educational outcomes for all, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
‘The focus on opening new grammar schools is, in my view, an unnecessary distraction from the need to ensure all our young people are equipped with the skills to compete in the modern workplace.’
Yesterday, when asked why he had sent his own children to grammar schools, Mr Carmichael told Talk Radio: ‘We were living in an area where you have got selective education so you really have to go through the process.
‘What I want is all of our schools to be really good. We need all of our children to go to really good schools. I am concerned about all children going to all schools.’
He said those describing him as a hyprocrite were failing to take a ‘global view’ of the education system. ‘You have too many areas with not good enough schools,’ he said. ‘Sometimes that is because they’re next to grammar schools.’