Nicky Morgan Set To Approve First New Grammar School In 50 Years

Cllr Philip Bicknell (Con, Park) was speaking shortly after the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, confirmed late this morning that the Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge would be allowed to open a new site in Sevenoaks.

England is to get its first “new” grammar school for five decades.

The decision was welcomed by Paul Carter, the leader of Tory-controlled Kent County Council. The average hourly wage difference between the richest 10 per cent and the poorest 10 per cent of earners in grammar school areas is over £4 more than in non-selective areas. Whether or not Morgan meant to, she may be opening an educational Pandora’s box.

In a letter to Ms Morgan, Ms Powell said the approval of what is being described by government as an “annex” of the existing school suggested it was now “intent on increasing selection in our schools system by the back door”. It’s rather like knocking up a greenhouse on your allotment and claiming it’s actually an extension to your kitchen three streets away, on the grounds that you can have a cup of tea in both.

Campaigners argue that selective education allows for greater social mobility – allowing students who are bright but who can not afford to pay for education to learn with others of a similar ability. For those old enough to remember secondary moderns, the debate is skewed by nostalgia or personal grievance. For instance, in 2006, pupils in England’s 164 grammar schools produced more than half the total number of A-grade A-levels in “harder” subjects than those produced by pupils in up to 2,000 comprehensive schools, according to the National Grammar Schools Association. But for what it’s worth, here are the boring facts again.

Research over the summer showed that buying a home in the catchment area of a top state school could cost up to 28 per cent more than a comparable house in surrounding areas.

“Let’s be absolutely clear: this decision today will open the floodgates”. The chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has said grammar schools are “stuffed full of middle-class kids”.

As an industry has developed around tutoring kids to get into grammars, so they have become worse for social mobility.

When were grammar schools phased out?

A few months ago I visited Adams’ grammar in Shropshire, whose old boys include Jeremy Corbyn.

Labour have accused David Cameron of tossing social mobility down the drain after it emerged Britain will have its first new grammar school for 50 years.

She said: “In the Conservative Party’s general election manifesto, you pledged to give every child the best start in life”.

However critics have argued that grammars foster inequality.

But these things are hard, and expensive, and boring for middle class voters because there’s not much in it for them. Many Tories bitterly opposed the policy of phasing them out during the 1960s and 70s.

They don’t even box Corbyn into the awkward position of having to decide how to respond, if a flood of new grammars ensues: commit political suicide by promising to turn the tide, or put up with it and risk being branded a sellout?