From Mr Henry Algeo Sir: Rachel Johnson seems to be
unaware that in one part of the United Kingdom there is no independent sector in educa- tion. Here in Northern Ireland, where we still retain a selective system of education, our pupils enjoy the best academic results in the UK without the need for private schools. Both the voluntary grammar schools and the very impressive secondary schools serve all the children well, as evi- denced by results in public examinations.
At GCSE the percentage of pupils gain- ing five or more A* to C grades last year was 55 per cent in Northern Ireland com- pared with 47 per cent in England and Wales. At the lower end of the academic scale, the percentage of children leaving school with no qualification at all was 3 per cent in Northern Ireland, 4 per cent in Scotland, 5 per cent in Wales and 7 per cent in England.
Perhaps there are a number of lessons to be learnt from the facts.
Henry Algeo
henryalgeo@halgeo.freeserve.co.uk
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