I write as Headmaster of a selective school in Gloucester so my perspective may be biased. But, like the Leader of the Council (as reported in The Citizen), I was under the impression that the Review would not be targeting selection. We were obviously misled.

I would question the legality of an LEA interfering with selective schools. However much it might feel it ought to be able to do so, the 1998 Education Act states very clearly that the future of selection in any school is to be determined by the parents of children at its feeder primary schools. The principle and letter of the law are quite specific: neither LEA officers nor councillors may interfere. Is the County Council assured that the options which would affect Grammar Schools are within its powers, are they confident of resisting legal challenge from a School's Governors or the National Grammar Schools Association i.e. would it be acting illegally?

The options seem to be an attempt to return to the discredited days of 'social engineering', in this case denying opportunities to parents which have been enjoyed by at least three LEA officers on the Working Party - the chance to send their children to Grammar Schools. This piece of social engineering would close places at popular, over-subscribed schools in order to force children to attend less popular schools, which is completely contrary to Government policy and to the Council's own School Organisation Plan.