Eight were old Etonians; four were old Harrovians; 10 went to state schools but only two, including Gavin Williamson, the present incumbent, to comprehensives. Another Tory education minister, Edward Wood (later the 3rd Viscount Halifax), was equally dismissive of education: state schools, he said, should train children up “to be servants and butlers”. Is Williamson worse? You know who: Margaret Thatcher, the only education secretary so far who went on to become prime minister Photograph: Tom Stuttard/The GuardianMany think so. That was Herbert Fisher, president of the board of education (equivalent of today’s education secretary) for nearly six years from 1916.

Source: The Guardian November 21, 2020 07:41 UTC