Theresa May accused of being ‘misty-eyed’ for the 1950s over grammar school plans
Prime Minister dealt withering attack by Ofsted head and Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw
THE OUTGOING Chief Inspector of Schools has launched a withering attack on Theresa May, accusing the PM of being “misty-eyed” about the 1950s.
Attacking the government’s plans to reintroduce grammar schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw said education has vastly improved over 20 years but is still blighted by a “long-tail of underachievement”.
And he warned a return Mrs May’s plans to bring back grammar schools would only make that worse.
He told the BBC on Sunday: “We mustn’t be misty eyed and nostalgic about the 50s when a small number of youngsters did very well and 80 per cent of youngsters, more, did badly.
He added: “Our economy now needs more highly skilled, better educated people than ever before.”
“Our system was in special measures, in intensive care, in the 70s, 80s and much of the 90s,” he said.
"But the reforms that have taken place - to governance, academies, free schools, a better curriculum and assessment - have made a big difference and we’ve got a much better education system now."
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“We’re not there with the South Koreas and the Shanghais and some of the really good European nations and we’ve got a lot to do to catch up.
“We’ve got to sort out the big regional differences in performance in our country, particularly at secondary level, particularly in the Midlands and the North, and we’ve got to do something about skills.”
Asked how he would sum up the system, he said: “It’s six-and-a-half out of 10. Mediocre but getting better.”
Risking the wrath of teachers and No10, the outgoing Ofsted boss also claimed that Michael Gove will go down in history as “one of the great Education Secretaries.”
He added: “I had some rows with him which were well publicised, but I was broadly on the same page as he was.”
“It needed radical reform - greater autonomy for people on the frontline, a reform of the curriculum which was wishy-washy and not robust enough, reform of the examination system.
“He was a good secretary of state.”
In response a Department for Education spokesperson said: “Thanks to the government's reforms and investment, 1.4 million more pupils are now in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.
“But a good school remains out of reach for too many – that is why we have set out plans to more good school places in more parts of the country.
“We will scrap the ban on new grammar schools and allow them to open where parents want them – with strict conditions to make sure they improve the education of pupils in other schools locally.
“This will further build on our approach of school-led improvement, in which great schools are working in partnership with others to share expertise and resources.”