1. News
  2. Education

Archbishop of Canterbury attacks grammar schools as ‘contrary to the common good’

The Most Revd Justin Welby argued that the system 'will ultimately fail'

Click to follow
The Independent Online
The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised grammar schools as "pointless separation." AFP

The Archbishop of Canterbury has attacked a Conservative proposal to expand grammar schools, arguing they are fundamentally “contrary to the notion of the common good”.

The Most Revd Justin Welby, who was leading a debate on education in the House of Lords on Friday, said: "he academic selective approach to education, which prioritises separation as a necessary precondition for the nurture of excellence, makes a statement about the purpose of education that is contrary to the notion of the common good."

 “An approach that neglects those of lesser ability or, because of a misguided notion of 'levelling out' does not give the fullest opportunity to those of highest ability… will ultimately fail”, he added. 

Read more

Mr Welby continued to praise the improvements of comprehensive schools, especially their inclusion of those with disabilities. 

He acknowledged that despite the fact "children of privilege continue to inherit privilege", the inclusion of students with more diverse needs was a “welcome step towards an education that seeks the fullest and most abundant possible life for each human being, regardless of their ability”.

In 2016, the Conservative manifesto promised to introduce a "new generation" of grammar schools reversing the 1997 Labour ban. However, Theresa May was forced to abandon her plans after failing to gain a majority instead saying the government would "look at all options".

The Archbishop, who is known for being outspoken on issues of social progression, urged ministers who still backed grammar schools not to "waste our time rummaging" in the past for the "solutions of tomorrow".

Conservative Andrew Bridgen told the Daily Mail: “It is well known that [grammar schools] provide social mobility for the under-privileged."

UK news in pictures

UK news in pictures

  • 1/42 8 December 2017

    British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker address a press conference at the European Commission in Brussels

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 2/42 7 December 2017

    Nick Dunn, one of the so-called Chennai Six is greeted by his sister Lisa as he arrives at Newcastle Airport after being released from India after serving four years in jail on weapons charges.

    PA

  • 3/42 6 December 2017

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) greets Nigeria's ambassador to the United Kingdom, George Adesola Oguntade (C), and his wife, Modupe Oguntade, during a private audience at Buckingham Palace in central London

    AFP/Getty

  • 4/42 5 December 2017

    800 abandoned buckets appear at Potters Field Park, London, in a moving tribute to the 800 children who die every day, on average, due to a lack of clean water and sanitation. Just one bucket in the installation, part of WaterAid’s #Untapped appeal, could hold almost enough safe drinking water for one child for a week. Every £1 donated to the #Untapped appeal until 31st January 2018 will be matched by the UK Government.

    WaterAid / Ollie Dixon

  • 5/42 4 December 2017

    British Prime Minister Theresa May smiles to European Union President Donald Tusk as she attends Brexit negotiations' meetings

    AFP/Getty

  • 6/42 3 December 2017

    The last Supermoon of 2017 sets over Whitley Bay, Northumberland

    PA

  • 7/42 2 December 2017

    The crowd reacts as England's Dawid Malan fails to stop a boundary during the first day of the second Ashes test match

    REUTERS

  • 8/42 1 December 2017

    England manager, Gareth Southgate, jokes with Belgium manager, Roberto Martinez, after their sides were drawn in the same group during the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

    Getty Images

  • 9/42 30 November 2017

    A supporter of Lauri Love, who is accused of hacking into U.S. government computers, wears a Donald Trump mask as he protests in front of the Royal Courts of Justice in London

    AP

  • 10/42 29 November 2017

    A sign reading 'We want our future back' is displayed in front of Westminster during an Anti-Brexit Demonstration

    Rex Features

  • 11/42 28 November 2017

    This year's innovative V&A Christmas Tree, The Singing Tree, is shaped from a cloud of floating words, contributed by visitors, and is created by leading stage and performance designer Es Devlin.

    Rex Features

  • 12/42 27 November 2017

    David Jones and Margaret Tyler wait outside Kensington Palace after hearing about the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

    Rex

  • 13/42 26 November 2017

    Sailors from the Royal Navy perform the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace for the first time in its 357-year history

    PA

  • 14/42 25 November 2017

    Arlene Foster gives her leader's speech during the annual DUP party conference at La Mon House

    Getty Images

  • 15/42 24 November 2017

    Ex-England footballer Michael Owen prior to riding in a charity race at Ascot racecourse

    Rex

  • 16/42 23 November 2017

    Shoppers pass a promotional sign for 'Black Friday' sales discounts on Oxford Street

    AFP/Getty

  • 17/42 22 November 2017

    Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street

    EPA

  • 18/42 21 November 2017

    Protestors hold up a banner during a protest held in solidarity with the University of London cleaners' strike

    Petros Elia

  • 19/42 20 November 2017

    British Prime Minister Theresa May greets Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo outside number 10 Downing Street

    Getty

  • 20/42 19 November 2017

    Grigor Dimitrov reacts to winning the Men's Singles Final with the trophy, during day eight of the NITTO ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London

    PA

  • 21/42 18 November 2017

    Central Scotland MSP Richard Leonard is congratulated by Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar at the Glasgow Science Centre after he was announced as the new leader of Scottish Labour

    Jane Barlow/PA

  • 22/42 17 November 2017

    British Military Working Dog Mali poses for a photograph with his handler, Cpl. Daniel Hatley, after receiving the PDSA Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for his heroic action in Afghanistan

    Reuters

  • 23/42 16 November 2017

    Theresa May chats with resident Val Lay during a visit to a housing estate in London

    AFP/Getty

  • 24/42 15 November 2017

    Richard Radcliffe leaves the Foreign Office with his local MP Tulip Siddiq, following a meeting with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson

    Marc Ward/REX

  • 25/42 14 November 2017

    Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah after being awarded a Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II

    PA

  • 26/42 13 November 2017

    Restoration work continues on the Palace of Westminster

    Photographs by Reuters/Getty/iStock

  • 27/42 12 November 2017

    A veteran takes his hat off during the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph wreathe laying ceremony

    REUTERS

  • 28/42 11 November 2017

    Members of the Western Front Association during a service at the Cenotaph to mark the Armistice Day

    EPA

  • 29/42 10 November 2017

    David Davis and Michel Barnier

    REUTERS

  • 30/42 9 November 2017

    Britain's newly appointed Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, leaves Downing Street

    AP

  • 31/42 8 November 2017

    Priti Patel leaves number 10 Downing street through the back entrance

    EPA

  • 32/42 7 November 2017

    School children and their teacher from Thomas Tallis School look at pictures on display at the Red Star Over Russia exhibition at the Tate Modern in London

    Philip Toscano/PA

  • 33/42 6 November 2017

    A cast of The Wrestlers, two men taking part in the Greek sport pankration, is lowered into place at Natural Trust's Stowe Landscape Garden near Buckingham

    PA

  • 34/42 5 November 2017

    Protesters in Trafalgar Square, London, during the Million Mask March bonfire night protest

    PA

  • 35/42 4 November 2017

    Protestors take part in the 'Justice Now: Make it Right for Palestine' march, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in central London

    PA

  • 36/42 3 November 2017

    People queue outside an Apple store in London to purchase the new iPhone X upon its release in the U.K. The iPhone X is positioned as a high-end, model intended to showcase advanced technologies such as wireless charging, OLED display, dual cameras and a face recognition unlock system

    Getty

  • 37/42 2 November 2017

    British Prime Minister Theresa May greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside 10 Downing Street in London. The pair are today celebrating the centenary of a British declaration that ultimately led to the foundation of the state of Israel

    Getty

  • 38/42 1 November 2017

    Mammatus clouds over St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Northumberland

    Owen Humphreys/PA

  • 39/42 31 October 2017

    Women protest outside Downing Street as they join a demonstration demanding rights for working mothers

    Getty Images

  • 40/42 30 October 2017

    England's under 17's pose with the World Cup trophy as they arrive back to the UK

    PA

  • 41/42 29 October 2017

    Leicester City remembrance day fixture between between Leicester City and Everton at King Power Stadium

    Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

  • 42/42 27 October 2017

    Spiderman steals a seat on the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones at MCM London Comic Con's opening day

    Rex Features

“[Mr Welby] is obviously entitled to his own views, but the evidence is that grammar schools are a great way for under-privileged children to escape poverty,” he added. 

The Archbishop also told the House of Lords that schools are faced with one of the “greatest challenges” as the country is entering a "fourth digital revolution".

“We need an educational system that can bear the weight of the changes that are coming,” he said.