Rob Wilson's Westminster Diary: May 26, 2011
Rob Wilson MP • Published 26 May 2011 09:30
1 Comment
THIS week President Obama visited Westminster and as I write this Westminster Hall is being prepared to receive him.
State visits from US presidents are important matters to Britain and the Foreign Office, but this one is particularly important as both US and UK leaders need to ensure the support for the 'Arab Spring' continues. Obama's response to events was hesitant and he looked weak in his response to Libya, so what he says this week will be hugely important.
Historically these addresses used to be infrequent, but in the six years I have been in Parliament I have been fortunate to attend quite a few.
The British stage these events incredibly well so it is probably no hardship that they appear to be on the increase.
The most recent one I attended was the Pope, when all the former Prime Ministers attended. It still makes me chuckle when I think of Tony Blair leaving Westminster Hall. I happened to follow him out and there was a fairly muted cheer for him and Cherie as they made their way to a big black chauffeured car. Blair took this as a signal to turn in to rock star mode (which is probably what he always wanted to be) and he dived into a small crowd to shake hands.
Unfortunately there weren't that many and to his great distress he was through them in a couple of minutes.
However, he soon cheered up as he suggested they have photos with him. At the end he was left appealing for "any more, any more". But there weren't. He looked sad as he got into the car with Cherie.
Finally I hope that you are all aware that our two excellent grammar schools are under threat. A very small group of parents, understandably upset by catchment changes to Maiden Erlegh, appear to want to abolish the schools and put comprehensives in their place. I believe this is profoundly mistaken as it is easy to destroy excellence, but incredibly difficult to create it.
By all means let's have a discussion in the open about the grammar school catchment areas, but this should not be anything to do with the issue of selection. We need many different types of schools for the wide range of interests that children have, but gifted and talented young people should not be forgotten within the education system.
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KendrickSecretGovBod
Unregistered User
Jan 20, 17:35
Report commentKendrick is proposing a postcode restriction on applicants by way of response to the ballot. Despite the fact that the restriction didn't save the boys' grammar from an attempted ballot.
So is it true that "influential" locals are trying to lower the odds because their daughters are coming up to 11? Don't the "Great and Good" know their academically challenged daughters stand a better chance if Kendrick goes comprehensive? There is no explanation of the planned postcode restriction, and a blatantly cynical gesture at mandatory "consultation".
Exactly who sits on the Kendrick Governing Body? Few know, let alone know who have daughters who turn 11 from 2013? Who else putting pressure on the school has a daughter turning 11? Presumably they'll introduce the postcode restriction in five years' time for Sixth Form applicants? Or a lowering of 16+ entry grades, just in case they can't make it despite extra tutoring? Since the principle of selection by merit is being watered down, why not abolish it altogether and replace it with selection by distance?
The postcode fiasco is compelling evidence that Kendrick has no principles and will change its policies to favour a certain few people. A good start will be to publish the names of the Governing Body. Unless some of them would be embarrassed to be found out?
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