Supply and demand

Currently there are ten children chasing every Grammar school place in the country, demand as ever has outstripped supply and you'd think that some in government at least would learn by this example of market forces. Sadly though I doubt they will, they'd far more have a 'fair' system where everyone is forced down to the lowest common denominator and learns about equality, gender awareness and religion is relegated to learning about islam as the muslims object to anyone learning about anything else.
Telegraph.

Counties with the largest numbers of selective state schools are reporting a four per cent hike in demand for places next year compared with this autumn.
Private tutors also told of a significant increase in the number of nine and 10-year-olds being given coaching to pass entrance tests.
In some areas, competition is so fierce that as many as 13 pupils are vying for each spare place.
The rise follows concerns that many bright children are being failed by comprehensive schools.
Last month, Sir Michael Wilshaw, the head of Ofsted, criticised the “curse” of mixed-ability teaching in the state education system, suggesting that lessons were often tailored towards average performers.
The shift to grammars is also likely to be driven by parents seeking free alternatives to private schools during the economic crisis.
It comes as a major academic study – published today – shows that one-in-seven places at state grammars are now taken by pupils who have transferred in from fee-paying schools at the age of 11.
Research by Prof David Jesson, from York University’s department for economics, found that they took up five times as many places as those awarded to children from the very poorest backgrounds who previously attended state primaries. At 25 grammars, at least 30 per cent of places went to former private school pupils.
Prof Jesson claimed that grammar school admissions were “biased” in favour of children from the richest families who can afford to provide an independent education – or extensive private tutoring – in preparation for the traditional 11-plus entrance test.

Well what a surprise, those who care a bit about their kids getting a good education are taking measures to make sure their kids are prepared to sit an exam which could get the best out of them. Yes this could look as if the 'rich' or 'well off' are taking advantage of the system, though i suspect that the rich would opt for private education anyway as would the well off. It will be those who are borderline with being able to make sacrifices for their kids to have a good education who are a bit fearful of the economic circumstances who will be trying like mad to make sure their kids will get a good education without putting the family into hock for the next six to eight years, though I suspect the smart ones will at least keep their options open and hope for a good 'free' education, whilst having a finger in the private education pie too.
What the government ought to be doing (but aren't) are re-opening the grammar school system for a lot of schools and going back to a two tier system. A move away from needing a degree to serve at Mc Donald's would help here too no doubt (yes it's an exaggeration)
Successive governments have badly let down our kids over the last forty years or so by insisting that all are treated equally in the state system, whilst knowing full damned well that equality when it comes to education simply doesn't work, kids range from bright to thick and all shades in-between and there's never going to be a one size fits all that will work. Streaming and a two (or more) tier system along with reasonably priced post education opportunities is the only system that will work, which is why politicians will probably never opt for it.
They like being an elite...