Bright children ‘must go private’

ALL bright children should be given the chance to go to private school, an education expert has claimed, as he warned that the UK’s schools are socially divided.

Academic selection of pupils, widespread in the 1970s, has been replaced by social selection, according to Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust. It is now more difficult for poorer children to improve their chances in life than in the past, he argued.

Speaking at the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference conference in Belfast yesterday, Sir Peter urged heads to back a scheme allowing more bright children to gain places at private schools based on merit rather than ability to pay.