''Russell branded 'closet Tory' after previous backing of selection

THE new education secretary has been branded a "closet Tory" after a draft version of a book he wrote showed he backed the re- introduction of selection in schools.

LINDSAY Roy, Labour MP and former Headteacher of Kirkcaldy and Inverkeithing high schools said: "Alex Salmond has put a closet Tory in charge of Scottish schools. He is walking where even Thatcher feared to tread.However, the text sent to Salmond was more radical: "We need a system which may use streaming, or a properly tailored and thought- through Scottish equivalent of city academies."Salmond's private notes to Russell dismissed the voucher idea as "VD", shorthand for "very dangerous".In an early version of his political tract, Grasping the Thistle, Michael Russell declared himself a supporter of "streaming" - a policy bitterly opposed by the SNP, which separates children according to ability.However, in early drafts of Grasping the Thistle, written three years ago and subjected to editorial cuts after correspondence with Alex Salmond, he challenged many key areas of SNP policy. Salmond vetoed the more radical sections of the book.When Russell sent his party leader a copy of the first draft, Salmond made it clear that a number of controversial passages had to be revised."Setting means recognising that pupils have different abilities in different subjects and helping them realise their potential. Streaming means kids are written off at an early age on the basis of some supposed assessment of intelligence."Moreover, his advocacy of a voucher system for schools was also much stronger in the proof copy of the book. Russell was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Education last week following the sacking of Fiona Hyslop.The published book also suggested that "setting" - where children are grouped according to ability in the same classroom - should be considered.A Scottish Government spokesperson said:"A voucher system is not on the Education Secretary's agenda. It forms no part of the government's thinking or policy."However, views expressed in his period out of Parliament are - by definition - not Government policy.Streaming is controversial as it involves educating brighter children in separate classrooms."Throughout his career, the Education Secretary has explored ideas and promoted debate.On vouchers, the final version of the book stated: "Many commentators have noted the success in Sweden of education vouchers and a debate about their utility in Scotland would be useful and instructive."Liz Smith, the Scottish Tory schools spokeswoman, said: "This is an interesting revelation, and Mike Russell is very close to our thinking. He is sensible in wanting an intellectual debate on education policy. The problem is that he has now been gagged by Alex Salmond."

"A voucher system is not on the Education Secretary's agenda. It forms no part of the government's thinking or policy."