They're larning!? - two

One of the government's top schools advisers, Sir Cyril Taylor, has recently found it necessary to comment on what should have been agreed by all concerned many years ago, that mixed ability classes in state schools are a tragic waste of talent.

It should have been obvious long ago, that trying to teach those who will eventually get an outstanding degree at a top university should not be taught in the same class as someone whose level of literacy and numeracy suggest that an academic career will not be their destiny, however much the government wishes it otherwise.

Sir Cyril talks of bright pupils being dragged down by weaker classmates. This must be true if the former are in a small minority and bulk of the teacher's attention is to those who have less potential academic ability, but it is equally true the other way round, that students struggling and discouraged because lesson material is partly above their heads are likely to develop disciplinary problems.

Sir Cyril points to the fact that only a third of top achievers leaving primary school went on to get three As at A-level. (It is possible of course that some may have reached the plateau and not developed any further at an age well short of A-level, but for 70% to have done so suggests that something is wrong. In his view mixed ability classes are one contributory factor among others.)