Flexible grammar schools could usher in a new era of excellence

SIR – Simon Heffer (Review, July 17) hits the nail on the head in his comments on grammar schools.

Although, in the Fifties, my school was essentially a grammar school, it incorporated commercial and technical sections, which offered twoyear courses in those areas.

There were many instances of pupils transferring from the grammar section to the technical one – and vice versa. This meant there were opportunities for pupils who discovered an aptitude for academic subjects after the age of 13.

I also knew a very bright boy who transferred from the grammar section to the technical one because that was where he wanted to be. It was a very good system and benefited many children.

Unfortunately the school was one of the first to go comprehensive and later ended up in special measures, from which it has thankfully been extricated. John R McErlean Elstow, Bedfordshire SIR – Graham Brady (Comment, July 20) asserts that “everyone sensible” believes that academic selection is a good thing. I wonder if he is aware of the work of Professor John Hattie, who has carried out more than 800 metastudies covering over 80 million children. Professor Hattie’s research rates grouping by ability at 167th out of 195 factors affecting attainment.

Some of us might be swayed by this research, which was carried out by an undoubted expert in the field. However, one member of Mr Brady’s party recently suggested that we had all had enough of experts.

Nevertheless, he ought to be warned that most of us do pay attention to experts and are distinctly concerned when confronted with policymakers who disregard evidence. Alex Welby Cambridge SIR – The campaign to provide more grammar schools grows more strident by the day. However, these proposals will continue to lack credibility until there is an equally vociferous crusade to bring back secondary moderns. Paul Strong Market Rasen, Lincolnshire SIR – I was a working-class boy in the Fifties, and was educated at a boys’ secondary modern school. However, I did not feel like a failure, and went on to do well.

Grammar schools and selective education need to be re-established. Comprehensive schools have created problems, particularly among working-class boys. Ken Orme Bootle SIR – The economy needs more technical schools as much as it needs grammar schools.

We once had these, as well as technical colleges. They fostered practical ability, and provided the high-level engineering skills that British industry so badly needs. Michael J Meadowcroft Durham