At a time of great challenge in education, the government must focus on the real priorities and not create divisions via selection, says Chris Keates

In her first words to the country as prime minister, Teresa May said that she wants a country that works for everyone. Her first policy announcement on education – proposals to remove barriers to selection of pupils by ability – came then as something of a surprise.

Selection, whether by aptitude or by religion or gender, is a long-standing feature of our education system.

However, there is strong evidence that countries which operate selective systems of education perform less well overall and have a wider attainment gap between well off and disadvantaged students.

At a time when the Brexit vote indicates that the nation is deeply divided and the gap between the richest and poorest in our society is widening, the role of education in helping to bring people together and sweep away divisions has never been more necessary.

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