Flawed and insulting

Concern about social mobility, or the lack of it, continues to exercise commentators and politicians. Sir John Major attracted attention not long ago by expressing dismay at what he perceived to be more entrenched social divisions.

As somebody from a working class background who had risen to the top in politics, he seemed to epitomise all that post-war changes had made possible – though his success did attract disparaging comments from some on Left and Right whose remarks reflected their real attitudes and prejudices and continuing sense of superiority.

Sir John’s ambition, when he was prime minister, had been a grammar school in every town, though the rather larger number of secondary modern schools that would have had to accompany them was never mentioned. As the organisation of the local school system was still a matter for local education authorities, there was little chance of his achieving his aim. No attempt by local politicians to restore selection where it had been abolished had ever succeeded.