THERE is a battle going on in Ripon that could have implications wider than the immediate boundaries of North Yorkshire.

The citizens of this sleepy city, surrounding a cathedral that has seen centuries of change, are being asked if they want to countenance a further change.

Ripon contains the oldest surviving English Grammar School. Like all old fashioned grammar schools it selects its intake of pupils on the basis of their ability: if you're clever enough you get in, if you're not it's the local comprehensive for you. Not surprisingly its examination results are impressive.

Over the road from Ripon Grammar School (founded 1555) is the school that admits those that do not pass the local 11+ exam.

This school, the Ripon College, has had its ups and downs during the sixty year period of its history, but is currently enjoying an up. The current headteacher appears to be turning the school around.

Now the local education authority is asking the parents of primary school age children if they want Ripon Grammar School to admit pupils not based on their ability.

Not surprisingly, this issue has raised hackles on both sides of the argument. There are the elitists who feel that those children with (presumably academic) ability should be segregated and taught in a different way to the rest. And there are the egalitarians who think that everyone should be given an equal opportunity, regardless of any traditional consideration.

It is interesting to note that the man who is leading the elitists sent both his children to Ripon Grammar School.

This fact, in addition to any other argument, is being used to discredit the elitists.

The egalitarians see the unequal distribution of resources towards the Grammar School as a sign of a significant malaise within the local education authority.

It has to be said that when David Blunkett was in opposition he regarded grammar schools as anathema, and was determined to see them abolished. To date there are about 160 grammar schools left in the country: mostly in the south-east of England, with some in Birmingham as well as in North Yorkshire.

The Prime Minister, though, has tended to distance himself from condemning grammar schools per se. He has left it up to local education authorities to ballot parents.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that, with only thirty per cent of Ripon's children able to go to the grammar school, with the rest consigned to Ripon College, most parents (obviously considering their own children) would opt for both schools to go comprehensive.

In my opinion the Government is not doing its job. Either it wants all schools to be comprehensive or it does not. Elitism and egalitarianism are not good bedfellows. Like oil and water they do not mix.

The situation in Ripon could be repeated all over the country. The fate of Ermysteds Grammar School and its ilk lie in the balance. I'm all for equality. But, with only limited resources available, if we want our best to shine and create national wealth in this competitive world those resources must be targeted.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.