Council votes against grammar schools in Milton Keynes

Council leader Pete Marland has given his support to the national Labour Party campaign and oppose the “segregation” of children.

This decision is on the back of the Conservative government pushing to re-introduce grammar schools, which will turn all others into ‘secondary modern schools’.

MK Council claim, that by bringing the old school system back and having selected pupils attend grammar schools, and the rest be sent to secondary modern schools, the government is allowing segregation of children.

Councillor Marland, said: “The idea of re-introducing segregation into Milton Keynes schools is a dangerous ‘politically driven’ step backwards for a modern city that needs a highly skilled workforce.

“Dividing school children, creating winners and losers at age 11 misses the point of what a modern city needs to be successful.

“We will not let Theresa May get away with segregating children by creating a city of secondary moderns.

“Labour is united against her plans to provide a privileged education for the few, and a second-class education for the rest.

“Over the coming months we will work with all people of goodwill right across the new city to stop this Tory segregation in its tracks.

“We need all those in school to do well and contribute to the success of Milton Keynes and share in that success.

“There can be no going back to the 1950s.”