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The author comments on the British government's ambition to create an education system that offers all children, whatever their background, with schooling that will aid them attain their potential. He says that the intention that selective schools should sponsor a non-selective school, or that an independent school would give greater benefit to ordinary families by setting up a free school is not probably to expand the number of good school places available to all families.

The article informs that there are many schools around the world taking advantage of the offer by the Financial Times, Britain's business paper. It mentions pupils, teachers and the library get free access to the on-line edition, and offers free digital access to FT.com to students aged 16-19, their teachers and schools.

The article reports that the Association of Professionals in Education and Children's Trust (ASPECT) has led a debate on the schools White Paper at the House of Commons in Great Britain. John Chowcat, general secretary of ASPECT, said that admission policies were important, but the White Paper was fundamentally about a wider separation between schools and local authorities.

The article reflects on the author's view regarding the schools in Great Britain. According to the author, there are several features of the school service in the country that remain largely unchanged citing that choice, diversity, and excellence remain key ingredients of major policy papers on education. He cited that there are also major changes in the schools, noting that schools are better funded and that the buildings are subject to the biggest investment program.

Discusses the "Educational Reconstruction," a White Paper published in 1943, which comments on British primary education to see how far progress was subsequently made in tackling the issues it identified. Outline of the Government's intention to recast the education service in terms of stages; Observation that some of the issues of concern then are still present in 2003.