As a relatively successful product of the old, selective system of British secondary schooling, I used to toe the Labour party line on the virtues of comprehensive education. I wised up after I arrived in the USA. After seeing the practical results (including the mess that US public education has become), I can’t say I’m surprised to read that “More than three-quarters of people believe bright children would do better if taught separately, a poll suggests.” I don’t think anyone – even the most devout social democrats – ever believed that this idea was false; the difference is that now people seem willing to admit that bright kids ought to have the opportunity to do better. Elitist? Maybe so – but meritocracy certainly seems preferable to plutocracy….