So now we have it. Estelle Morris will not fall on her sword next year - nor, like John Patten, eat her hat garnished - if she misses the odd target or two.
“I’m hugely ambitious for our department,” she told the Commons education committee, scrutinising her for the first time (a “baseline assessment”, the MPs said). “But I’d rather be a Secretary of State who aimed high and nearly reached targets than one who aimed low and had an easier time with the committee.” So far, so disarming.
Sitting alone, smart in a sick green jumper, Miss Morris came over as hugely nice, answering bravely and fluently, despite a cough. She also, however, demonstrated her maddening habit of finding both negative and positive things to say about everything: teachers, local authorities, herself. This means that MPs who had come to grill her found themselves nodding in agreement.
What about the target to cut truancy by a third by 2002? asked Tory MP Bob Spink, meanly. “Challenging,” conceded Ms Morris, then suggested shifting the goalposts to target overall attendance. Focusing on unauthorised absence encouraged schools to switch pupils from one category to another. Her private secretary scribbled a note for action.
Was the Government creating a two-tier system with its expansion of specialist schools? asked Labour MP Jeff Ennis.
Only 7 per cent of specialist schools selected by aptitude, Miss Morris said, and the proportion was shrinking as the number of specialists rose (this was challenged - see page 2). She denied non-specialists would decline: parents would choose good schools, specialist or not.
On the vexed issue of expanding faith schools Miss Morris thought it “intolerable” to offer that choice to some and not to others - to Catholics in Birmingham, say, and not to Muslims.
In Bradford, there were 18 private Muslim schools; she would rather they were in the state sector, so the Government could keep track of standards and ensure equal opportunities. But she was not about to launch a campaign to set up new faith schools. It was up to schools to apply for maintained status and they would have to be inclusive and work with the “family of schools” in their area. You see? Hard to disagree with that.
