James O'Shaughnessy: The centre-right case against more selection

James, Head of Research at Policy Exchange, offers a conservative perspective on the problems with introducing more academic selection.

The grammar school row has at least got people talking about education. There is now broad agreement on the centre-right on many issues: that there should be genuine parental choice where all money – revenue and capital – follows the pupil; that we must create a network of independent state-funded schools with the freedom to employ their own staff, design their own curriculum and enforce their own standards of discipline; and, that we desperately need to smash down the barriers so that new school providers can easily provide a good education.