I want to examine the word ‘elitism’ and to consider what it really means.

Elites are a fact of life.

All of our international sporting teams are elites. From Linford Christie to Paula Radcliffe, the English football team to Steve Redgrave our great sports people are by definition parts of an elite.

In the artistic world, the nation’s great performers in the theatre, as popular singers or as film stars are all parts of an elite.

Our greatest national scientists - whether understanding the human genome, exploring the depths of space or identifying the impact of the process of climate change - are all part of an intellectual elite.

Politicians are part of an elite. Members of Parliament are uniquely entitled to make the laws of this country and, in various ways, to try and hold the government of the day to account.

Judges, newspaper editors, chief executives of FTSE 100 companies, chief constables, hospital consultants, bishops and many others are all parts of different elites who influence the lives of the nation in a variety of ways.

These elites all have their important roles that they perform more or less well. I’d prefer to be operated on by an elite hospital consultant than by a second-rater, to be represented in international sports by world-class performers rather than an also-ran, to be taught in schools by outstanding teachers rather than by timeservers.

So I maintain that the problem is not that these elites exist. That’s obvious and we should celebrate people who do well.

But we must ask important questions about elites. How does anyone join? What is the membership criteria? And how is the power of the elite used?

Any frank assessment of this country should acknowledge that for all of the elites I’ve mentioned, sports and arts, business and politics, research and teaching, our society does not reach out widely enough. There are literally millions of people who could contribute as part of elites but never have the opportunity to do so. The criteria therefore has to be merit not circumstance or inheritance.

Government’s mission is not to get rid of the elites, whose talents we need in so many areas to improve our lives. Our mission is to do what we can to ensure that people from all walks of life get the chances to join these elites and that elites use their knowledge to benefit others.

We need more opportunities for the potentially world-class sports people who want to compete for Britain, more ability for clever children of all backgrounds to get a university education and become world-class researchers, more business entrepreneurs from every type of home background in the country.

And for the power elites in politics and elsewhere we need to open up our own structure to a far wider range of people. That’s why in Government we’re positively trying to change ourselves so that there will be more women in parliament and local councils, more from minority ethnic communities, more from genuine working backgrounds.

And as Secretary of State of Education and Skills I see one of my greatest responsibilities to be to offer every citizen the chance to be part of an elite judged on merit. To do this we must provide educational opportunities to fulfil their aspirations which, as appropriate may give them the chance to be part of the elite which is right for them.

That’s why we have our early years programme to attack disadvantage from birth; why we have focused on literacy and numeracy in primary schools, and will continue to do so. It’s also why we are trying to build a secondary education system where the best schools and teachers collaborate with others so that every child has the chance to realise their potential; and a post-16 education system which allows everyone, throughout their lives, to get the opportunities to fulfil their hopes.

And at universities too, we need to recognise that there are many different elites from the soon-to-be world class researchers to the first class medical students, from the brilliant and creative entrepreneurs to the top quality professionals.

Our job is not to destroy those elites, but it is to do our best to ensure that the potential access to those elite groups is genuinely widely spread so that any child, from whatever community they come, can aspire to be part of the national or international elite in which they are interested.

All who want to argue about elitism should not focus upon the very existence of elites but upon the ways in which any elite is formed.

The Government has a very good record in this area. Government’s policy really is to open up the elites wherever they exist and to give everyone a fair crack.

Let’s not attack the bogey of elitism; let’s do what we can to break down the divisive artificial barriers which still do exist in so many parts of our society.

CHARLES CLARKE