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CHILDREN'S Secretary Ed Balls risked fresh accusations of class warfare today when he declared that state schools in “posh areas” had an easier life than more deprived counterparts.
Mr Balls also hit back at a former Whitehall official who claimed that Labour's “inverted
snobbery” had left comprehensives focusing more on fairness than high standards.
Ralph Tabberer, the former director general of schools, said not enough emphasis had been put on “scholarship, genuinely high quality study and its importance”.
But Mr Balls unleashed a broadside at Mr Tabberer, who now works for Dubai-based GEMS Education.
Mr Balls said: “The fact is that Ralph, who is a really good guy who I believe worked to raise
standards in our comprehensives for years, has now gone off to work for a chain of private
schools in Dubai.
“I don't know why he's saying what he's saying. I think he's profoundly wrong.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he added: “I'm determined to be fair because I know that parents
want their child to do well in school. I don't believe in a view which says excellence can only be for some schools in posh areas. I say every school can do well for every child.”
Challenged to name a “posh area”, Mr Balls said: “The important thing is to make sure that
every school in every part of the country can do well. If you are in an affluent part of the country, where you start off with higher standards, it's much easier to keep standards rising.
“I want to make sure that in every part of the country in every area we achieve excellence.”
Reader views (2)
So Mr Balls, will you also be attacking Lord Adonis who was UK advisor to the GEMS board?
- David Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 15/06/2009 13:14
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Listening to Ed Balls this morning confirms my view that the politicians are totally out of touch with the realities of secondary school education in the UK, or...., are so bogged down with their dogma that they don't care. I'm speaking from experience. I was once accused by a Labour councillor, that all I wanted was a good school for my daughter when appealing for a place for her in a girl's school. Apparently you can't use that as a reason in appeals. Doesn't that say it all?
- Paul, Stevenage, Herts, 15/06/2009 13:06
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