Of all the destructions of the dismal decade, history will surely judge the deliberate downgrading of children the most perverse. The “future” for the Tories only stretched as far as cajoling oldies into the polling booths at the next election. Grammar schools have expanded, and his free schools were designed for sharp-elbowed parents and religious schools were allowed to select 100% of their pupils. When it comes to GCSE results, the rising number of pupils “off-rolled” before they get to them – the 24,600 conveniently disappeared – boost many schools’ results. Only 15% qualify for free school meals, and many more go hungry after the Tories lowered the income threshold families need to fall below in order to qualify for them.

Source: The Guardian December 05, 2019 15:49 UTC