Your report on specialist schools sounded like a spoof. I remember meeting the Thatcherite Sir Cyril Taylor in the early 90s and laughed at his vision of secondary education. Who’s laughing now?
Do Michael Barber, Roger McGough, Mike Tomlinson and the rest really believe that comprehensives which accept one and all in their neighbourhood and treat their staff well are “bog-standard” compared to independent specialist establishments with all their “new freedoms”.
Where indeed is the limit of their influence and expansion? Is it only those of us in the Socialist Education Association who dare to speak against? Surely not!
Bob Tutton
Executive members, SEA 12 Hazel Road Purley-on-Thames, Reading
