Book Chapter

Do selective schooling systems increase inequality?

By Simon Burgess, Matt Dickson and Lindsey Macmillan

Edited by Michaela Benzeval, Ricky Kanabar, Nicole Martin, Victoria Nolan and Raj Patel

Publication details

Publication date
Series or book
Insights 2016: findings from the largest longitudinal study of UK households
Series or chapter number
Ch. 1: Education
Pages
pp. 10–11
Publisher
University of Essex: Institute for Social and Economic Research
View on understandingsociety.ac.uk

Summary

Selective schooling systems, and their grammar schools, continue to be a prominent policy issue in England. Questions are asked such as, should grammar schools be reintroduced across the country? Should they be expanded where they currently exist? These questions are passionately debated and continue to be controversial. Popular stories in the press are of the form “I went to a grammar school and look how well I’m doing now”. However, whilst interesting and often inspiring, these anecdotes are not a basis for policy.

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