There has been huge investment in physical capital. But meanwhile, the effort to revitalise our human capital has been fragmented, centralised and half-hearted.
But too often the switch to comprehensives meant mixed ability, equality of outcomes and the head being beaten up.
The statistics actually suggest that, nationally, students of a similar ability do better in these schools than in comprehensives.
The right strategy could divide and overcome her opponents.
They will be adding to a diverse state education system far removed from the binary system of the past.
The combination of a small majority, radical intent, a flow of power one way to Cabinet Ministers and another to key aides requires adjustment.
We have to accept that they represent a trade-off between a small minority than benefit and large majority that are penalised.
Instead of the widely predicted rebellion, only half a dozen Conservative parliamentarians were openly negative. Others preferred to dig into the detail.
It wasn’t in your manifesto. And as a Liberal Democrat, I speak from experience when I say that letting people down on education can be very, very damaging.
Opponents of grammar schools, some supporters of them, a slice of the independent sector, secularists…all have reason not to be best pleased with her plans.
“It is a future in which Britain’s education system shifts decisively to support ordinary working class families.”
But her decision and other recent ones also raise the question of whether Ministers really hold sway in their own departments.
Her relative quiet compares favourably to Cameron’s incessant commentary, but it’s not without cost.
Their opponents often deploy arguments that are simply out of date.
New technology makes it easier than ever to take personal control of your money. This opens up new opportunities, but also serious risks.