Why is Bridget Phillipson undoing all the education reforms that have transformed England's state education system into one of the best in the world? Simple: because from now on nobody is allowed to win.
The Blob has sunk to new depths in its quest to destroy educational freedom. No wonder, says Randall Hardy. It's only the right to withdraw children from the state system that restrains its worst indoctrinating tendencies.
Katharine Birbalsingh, the head of one of Britain's best state schools, has written an excoriating letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson after a meeting where Phillipson exposed her ignorance of her own bill.
Teaching unions are celebrating as Ofsted ditches its single-word ratings for detailed "report cards" next September, despite concerns that the change might damage educational standards.
Labour claims its Education Tax on private schools is to raise revenue for the state sector. But it's unlikely to do that – and no wonder when the policy's architect is clear that it wants private schools to disappear.
Keir Starmer has claimed Labour's policy of slapping 20% VAT on private schooling will raise £1.7bn in tax revenue. But no evidence supports that claim because it fails to allow for pupils leaving for the state sector.
On school choice, the rest of the world is moving in the right direction, while Labour proposes the opposite. But the UK even funds private schools for poor children in Africa. So why not here?
