THE debate into the future of Buckinghamshire's selective education system is reignited today as the Free Press challenges its readers to say whether they think grammar schools should be scrapped or retained.

We have opened our phone lines and our website vote line so you can tell us, the campaigners and the schools, once and for all, if you think that Bucks should keep the 11plus.

This week anti-grammar school campaigners in the county, along with other abolitionists, started a new campaign to end selection.

Speaking at a meeting in Westminster, local councillors joined high-profile politicians in condemning Bucks' grammar schools as socially divisive.

Clare Martens, the Labour county councillor for Marsh and Micklefield, High Wycombe, said: "We feel very disappointed that the Labour Party's long-standing commitment to reducing selective education has not been supported in any way by this Government."

But the campaign comes at a time when the county's selective system is delivering some of the best exam results in the country and the local education authority has just received a maximum three stars from the Government for education.

Tim Dingle, head of High Wycombe's Royal Grammar School, warned this week parents of grammar school pupils would pull their children out of state education altogether if selective education was abolished.

He added: "It is a waste of time and all nonsense, diverting from the real issues, like funding."

The RGS and Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham were revealed this week as among the top schools in the country for GCSE results.

The results countrywide, published yesterday by the Department for Education and Skills, also show Buckinghamshire to be the top Local Education Authority in the country for GCSE results.

Marion Clayton, cabinet member for schools, said: "Year after year Buckinghamshire comes at or near the top of national performance tables which emphasise how good all our schools really are."

At RGS every pupil got at least five grades A* to C and averaged just over 12 passes each. The boys passed 58.9 per cent of the exams at the two top grades, A* and A, and four students gained among the top marks in the country.

At Amersham's Dr Challoner's Grammar School, 64.2 per cent of passes were at the two top grades.

Headteacher Mark Fenton said: "I am delighted with the results and the boys and staff have worked well."

To vote online, go to www.bfp.co.uk/views/ballot or click the related link below.

To make a phone vote, call 0906 210 4421 to vote that grammars schools should stay and call 0906 210 4422 to vote that they should go.

January 24, 2003 10:30