The Chief Inspector, David Bell's speech to the Fabian Society. He says that the, 'association of social class with low achievement is not universal and inevitable' but it would be a strange society in which schooling ceased to be a major social class selection mechanism and the means by which much social class reproduction was accomplished. Press Office

Typically, the Guardian leader writer wants it both ways in this, 'can schools change society?' conundrum. If the causes of low attainment lie outside school how can changing schooling make a difference? Doesn't anyone remember the debates of the sixties on these questions? A class diveded society or if you prefer, a society marked by increasing disparities in wealth and power gets a divided school - and university - system. Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Slipping in the cities

It is curious that construction companies are asked to run schools and given large amounts of money to do so but schools and LEAs are not asked to run construction projects. If the idea of an LEA winning a contract for track maintenance seems absurd why does Jarvis winning contracts in the public education service seem reasonable? Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Will they ever learn?