A Revolution Betrayed

How Egalitarians Wrecked the British Education System

Peter Hitchens

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English

Bloomsbury
04 April 2023

History; Philosophy & theory of education; Educational strategies & policy; Organisation & management of education; Schools; Comparative politics

There are few subjects these days that cause parents more stress than the education of their children.

In his new book, Peter Hitchens describes the misjudgements made by politicians over the years that have led to the increase of class distinction and privilege in our education system. This is of course the opposite of what was intended, especially by former Minister of Education Shirley Williams and Margaret Thatcher, her successor in that role, who closed down many more Grammar Schools than Williams.

Given that the cost of private secondary education is now in the region of £50,000 a year and the cream of Comprehensive Schools are now oversubscribed (William Ellis, Camden School for Girls, The Oratory, Cardinal Vaughan), parents are spending thousands on private tutoring and fee-paying prep schools in order to get their children into these academically excellent schools. Meanwhile hypocritical Labour politicians like Diane Abbott send their children to expensive private day schools. So, what alternatives – if any – are there?

Peter Hitchens argues that in trying to bring about an educational system which is egalitarian, the politicians have created a system which is the exact opposite. And what’s more, it is a system riddled with anomalies - Sixth Form Colleges select pupils on ability at the age of 15, which rules out any child who does not have major educational backing from home (heavy involvement by working parents or private tutors, for example) and academies also are selective, though they pretend not to be.

This is an in-depth look at the British education system and what will happen if things don’t change radically.

By: Peter Hitchens
Imprint: Bloomsbury
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Unabridged edition
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
ISBN: 9781399400084
ISBN 10: 1399400088
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 04 April 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1 The Nature and History of the Dispute 2 A Chronology of Grammar School Education 3 The Case against Grammar Schools 4 The Case for Grammar Schools 5 The Secondary Moderns 6 From O Level to No Level 7 The Left Dissents from Itself, But Only a Little 8 No Going Back Appendix I: A Grammar School ‘Who’s Who’ Appendix II: Schools Mentioned That Are Still Grammar Schools Appendix III: Former Grammar Schools and Their Later Fates Notes Index

Peter Hitchens is a columnist for the Mail on Sunday and a contributor to many other publications. He has published several books, including The Abolition of Britain and The Rage Against God, also published by Bloomsbury Continuum, mainly on aspects of what he regards as a Cultural Revolution which has transformed Britain for the worse in the last half century. He is active on social media, especially Twitter. He has been a journalist for nearly 50 years, has reported from 57 countries and was a resident correspondent in Moscow and Washington. He is a former revolutionary Marxist who now describes himself as a socially conservative Social Democrat.

Reviews for A Revolution Betrayed: How Egalitarians Wrecked the British Education System

Fascinating. * The New Statesman * ...Hitchens provides an accessible and helpful overview of educational history in the UK. * The Tablet * At its heart, though, A Revolution Betrayed is a history book with attitude… and has much to offer about an undeniably fascinating and significant episode. * The Spectator *