In the news today has been Rob Wilson MP's press release about defending Reading's two excellent grammar schools (which have recently become academies).
My friend and ex-councillor for Park Ward, Wazir Hussain, has posted on this here.
I went to my local comprehensive. Sadly the good headteacher retired after I'd been there for just 1 year. After him, the culture inhibited celebrating success. You kept quiet about good results. It wasn't until sixth form, when I went to a private school, that I saw a complete culture change and any success was celebrated big time.
A friend of mine has a couple of girls at Kendrick. She's told me that the culture is very much on celebrating achievement. I wouldn't wish for anything to jeopardise this.
Like Wazir & Rob, I too would welcome greater Reading designated areas for Kendrick and Reading Academies. For pupils with substantial commutes, they cannot possibly get or give to the school as much as a local pupil.
When these two top UK schools are performing so superbly it does seem very misguided for 10 people to try and dumb them down.