Here in Dartford, we have a thriving and diverse education system, made up of our four grammar schools and high-quality secondary schools, including a UTC.
Our schools allow children to thrive and our current system recognises that our children are all unique with different needs. We should not be focused on a ‘one size fits all education’ system but instead have a wide range of choice in educational establishments, like we do here in Dartford. Parents are far better suited to decide which type of school is best for their children than the Government is.
As a former grammar school student myself, I would like to see more of these schools, not less, so that more children from all walks of life have the chance to obtain an education that best suits their needs. I therefore asked the Education Minister about the Government's support for grammar schools now and in the future. My question and the Minister's answer can be watched in the video above.
We pride ourselves on having a wide choice of high quality schools here in Dartford and we should protect this diversity and not undermine it.