to control the entry to them would undermine these traditions and could lead to all schools becoming mediocre.
6.7
However, it is also argued that there are schools with considerable potential whose teachers seldom see a bright pupil and who become dispirited and inevitably less efficient. Control would ensure a better cross-section of pupils and revitalise the schools.
6.8
Control of entry could undoubtedly lead to wider ability ranges, but it would eliminate the need for competitive tests for entry to schools, and few would disagree with the need for this. The introduction of priority and discretionary elements in the control system would make it possible to retain family and other traditional links.
6.9
With regard to the social structure of a school, individuals tend to have very strong views on social mixing one way or the other. However there is little evidence to suggest that educating together children of different backgrounds is harmful and indeed could be considered the best possible way of providing education in a world where rigid distinctions between classes are generally breaking down.
6.10
One factor to be considered is the effect that control of entry to primary school might have on the feeder school system. At present, this system is not very satisfactory as it results in intense competition to enter a primary school feeding a popular secondary school. However, the general concept of a feeder system whereby children have an uninterrupted passage from their primary school to a secondary school with similar methods and traditions is a very attractive one. Once control of entry had removed the competitive element there would appear to be every reason for widening the feeder school system, especially since, with the implementation of the 1978 White Paper on Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education, all secondary schools should become of acceptable standard.
6.11
There are other advantages in controlling entry such as the reduction in the volume of traffic that would result if students were directed towards neighbourhood schools. However, the overwhelming argument in favour of control is the very bad effect that the present intense competition to enter a popular school has both on the child and on the education system.
6.12
The following paragraphs set out one possible system of control which the Government is prepared to implement. This system aims to leave the maximum possible discretion with parents but retain enough discretion on the part of the school to protect its traditions, but above all it does away completely with interviews and tests.
6.13
The system is primarily a district system in which as many children as possible are allocated to schools within easy reach of their homes. To achieve this, the territory will be divided up into district nets, each net being considerably smaller than those currently used for allocation to secondary schools. The nets will be adjusted to ensure a reasonable choice of different types of primary school in each net and parents' choice of school will be the only criterion for allocation within the net.
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