Publication of the week: Professor Alan Smithers

Smithers, A., “The dilemma of selection in schools”, in Anastasia de Waal (ed.), The Ins and Outs of Selective Secondary Schools (London: Civitas, 2015), 194-205.  ISBN: 978-1-906837-71-6.

In The Ins and Outs of Selective Secondary Schools, launched by the think tank, Civitas, at the House of Commons on 16 March 2015, Alan Smithers argues that there has to be selection in schools.  It is the other side of the coin from choice.

Choice and selection are inherent in society.  People differ greatly in their talents, interests and aspirations.  Not everyone can do everything.

But selection within the school system is bitterly opposed, largely as a consequence of the 11-plus.  Those picked out by the test often benefitted greatly, but in its heyday about three-quarters of the age group were cast aside.

While selection at age 11 is questionable, it has to happen at some stage.  It is accepted at age 16 and beyond, but not before.  This leaves only two years for the routes through to university, apprenticeships and employment in contrast to the three or four years of upper secondary education in other countries.

With the raising of the participation age, the GCSE is no longer needed as a school leaving exam.  If it were adapted to be taken a year earlier there would be three years for interconnected pathways taking students towards their futures.  This would be the right age for choice / selection to take place in schools.

Details of the book are available on the Civitas website.