With the Government’s program of education reform well underway, the Union questions the continued existence of grammar schools in the United Kingdom, and whether they should not just be tolerated, but be allowed to expand once more.
This debate was sponsored by TeachFirst.
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PROPOSITION
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Robert McCartney is the Chairman of the National Grammar Schools Association, an organisation which seeks to promote selective education.
Andrew Shilling leads the Sevenoaks Grammar School Campaign, now at a critical stage in its efforts to win government approval for the project.
Shaun Fenton is the current head of Reigate Grammar, and is the only person in the UK to have been headteacher of a Comprehensive, a Grammar School, an Academy, and an Independent school.
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OPPOSITION
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Melissa Benn is a writer, novelist, and campaigner. In 2011 she published ‘School Wars: the Battle for Britain’s Education’, which studied the comprehensive education system.
Michael Pyke is a spokesperson for the Campaign for State Education. CASE has been advocating since the 1960s for comprehensive education.
Ndidi Okezie is Executive Director of Regions within TeachFirst, responsible for understanding the specific nature and extent of educational disadvantage in areas TeachFirst operates.
