The policy should not be freedom for parents with vouchers to move schools combined with compulsion on schools to accept, with selection policy imposed by government.
The freedom granted to parents should be matched with equivalent freedom granted to schools to run themselves as they see fit, not according to the requirements of posturing politicians.
Only if the two parties to the educational contract, the parents and the schools, are set free will the benefits flow to the children.
The only problem is that government has put itself in the way of what would naturally occur when those two parties desire the same outcome - well educated children. Governments have agendas which do not include high standards of education, such as appearing to follow correct political dogmas. Answer must be to get rid of politicians and legislators from the process entirely.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=592172007 reports Hilary Benn claiming EU concerns over Gordon Brown not being supportive are wrong. Seems like Benn is acting as spokesman/apologist for Brown.
They'd make a good pair - the silent brooder, and the skilled communicator, both keen of raiding the pockets of the rich to donate to the world's poor. Tories, take cover as Benn shoots into the lead on betting for Deputy Leader.