I WAS expecting the creation of more grammar schools to be a hot topic on Question Time on Thursday, following Theresa May’s recent speech on the subject, and I wasn’t disappointed.

If anywhere’s qualified to host a discussion about grammar schools, it’s Salisbury.

I’m pleasantly surprised that Wiltshire Council could summon up enough staff to open the City Hall doors, given its latest programme of redundancies.

Not that I was there. I’ve always been a huge fan of Question Time, but the BBC and Mentorn, the company that makes the show, wouldn’t let journalists in. Are we that scary?

I’ll admit that Mr Dimbleby seemed to manage quite well without me, though I’d have preferred to see less time devoted to Labour’s not-so-civil war and a few more questions on a wider range of topics from the audience.

Meanwhile, thanks to the Journal I have my own opportunity to air my views. So here goes.

My upbringing in Essex was working class. I went to a grammar school, rebelled against wearing uniform and left at 16, taking A-levels at college, where I didn’t do as well as my former classmates. But at least I, and the rest of my generation, had the chance.

There were grammar and selective technical schools all over the place, and getting into them didn’t require the IQ of a genius, or parents who could afford coaching.

We took the 11-plus in our classroom, supervised by our usual teacher, who had familiarised everybody with the format via the occasional practice paper. Simple as that.

Until I reached the age at which enthusiasm became uncool, there were things I liked about grammar school.

The best was choir, where we sang the accessible bits of great choral works.

We had a rabbit and guinea pigs we could take home in the holidays. We could do beekeeping and archery.

There was hockey, football, cricket and athletics. Playing fields weren’t sold off for housing back then. We had tennis courts.

Our teachers had degrees in their subjects. They weren’t demoralised. They kept order. And education wasn’t a political football.

Nowadays, academic children from miles around flock to Salisbury’s grammars, squeezing the chances of local youngsters, due to the lack of comparable provision elsewhere.

I don’t believe there’s enough money available, or enough support for selection from within the teaching profession, to really change that.

I have no issue with selection by ability, as long as the system gives everyone a fair chance, equal funding, and equal respect, no matter what educational pathway best suits them.

As it stands, Wiltshire gets less government money per pupil than most counties, and that’s inexcusable.

Equally inexcusable are cuts to services for kids whose family circumstances make them no-hopers before they’re out of nappies.

We have a huge literacy problem nationally. Opening more grammar schools won’t solve that.

Thank goodness I’m not Education Secretary. I wouldn’t know where to start.

anneriddle36@gmail.com