With apologies to Coleridge, and condolences to everybody else:

From Downing Street did Tony Blair
A world class school reform decree
Where Blunk, the man of vision, strove
To fill league table treasure trove
With grades from A to C.
Death for every comprehensive
Floated in the Daily Mail,
Parents, kids were apprehensive
More than half were dooomed to fail.
It was a lottery, a monster prize -
More cash for schools who claim to specialise!

The minister, in power suit,
Was interviewed with pride;
It was Estelle, who said “Have fun,
There’s something here for everyone”
And laugh? I nearly died.
So let’s earn the Premier’s praising
For nothing shall we lack,
Focus on the funds we’re raising
Since we know we’ll get them back
We shall smile and spout hot air,
Let losers droop, we want the prize.
The polls proclaim: It’s Blair! It’s Blair!
The press attend to Alistair:
No more bog standard, print the lies,
The funding circle never ends
For Campbell’s king, his son attends
A school that’s paid to specialise!

Yours, in despair,

Paul Francis
7 Swan Meadow
Much Wenlock
Shropshire
TF13 6JQ