We’re behind Andy Burnham’s technical education revolution | Letters

There is nothing revolutionary about the need for technical education (Greater Manchester is revolutionising technical education – whether London likes it or not, 7 July). The 1944 Education Act set up three types of school: grammar for the more academic, secondary moderns for the less academic and technical schools to encourage high standards in science and technology in order to produce well-trained scientists and engineers.

Few technical schools were established, due to a lack of funding and a shortage of teachers at the time. However, there was also a lack of political will. Grammar schools were seen as prestigious, technicals as expensive and inferior. The lack of encouragement for such an education since then emphasises the academic snobbery among the establishment in this country, which has had a dampening effect on our economic growth. It is not surprising that a Tory minister of education is against Andy Burnham’s initiative.
Paul Haworth
Witton-le-Wear, County Durham

Andy Burnham’s article on the future of technical education in the Greater Manchester area brought back my own experience in Wigan in the 1960s. If at the time a youngster failed the 11-plus, they were destined for a mediocre education at a secondary modern school; but in the Wigan area, anyone showing some promise was given a chance to attend Leigh technical college full time from the age of 13, where boys were taught predominantly science and technical subjects and girls commercial and secretarial subjects (practices common at the time). If a similar system was open to all youngsters now, by choice, and without prejudice, it would benefit both the individuals concerned and the economy in general.
Albert Calland
Wigan, Greater Manchester