Anti-11-plus campaigners could hijack consultation

A CONSULTATION on whether the 11-plus should be trimmed could be hijacked by those who want it scrapped altogether, deputies opposed to selection have warned.

Education deputy director Alan Brown stressed that the survey, launched yesterday, was focused on improving the current system in time for the 2012/2013 academic year – not on whether it should be replaced by something new.

But Deputy Mike O'Hara, pictured, said that, as the consultation welcomed comments, he would be making his own anti-11-plus view known and said others should do the same.

Deputy Robert Sillars, who his hoping to retain the post of Education minister in next week's elections, strongly objected to the consultation becoming a debate over whether or not the 11-plus should be scrapped.