Ofsted boss rubbishes plan for new grammar schools

The prime minister was addressing the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers on Wednesday evening.

Even if that was once true – evidence is mixed at best – it is an observation of little value in today’s educational landscape.

It is thought numerous free schools announced by her predecessor David Cameron could become grammar schools under the changes.

By 1965, the Labour government shifted education policy, moving away from selective grammar schools to a generally more non-selective secondary school system: comprehensives.

“Not every child is suited to a purely academic grammar school education and it’s really important that there are proper alternatives that are equally outstanding in the quality of education they deliver”.

“We’re fortunate in Kent, we have a grammar school system, they have it in Buckinghamshire as well, and parents have a choice”.

On the university reforms, Government sources said ministers will set out the new guidance to the independent Director for Fair Access (DfA), with a clear expectation that universities would have to contribute to “school level attainment”. Free grammar school places were allocated on the basis of performance in a competitive 11+ exam, open to children from all backgrounds. There are now about 163 in England – out of some 3,000 state secondaries – and a further 69 in Northern Ireland.

Today construction work will begin on an annex that will be the first new grammar school to be built in England in 50 years.

Mr Milburn recommended a number of policies to address inequalities in education, including better pay and discounted housing for teachers who move to disadvantaged areas, having a Ucas-style system for pupils going down the vocational route, and improving parenting skills.

Ms Greening said: “We can’t rule anything out that could help us grow opportunity for all and give more people the chance to do well in life”.

Mrs May and her supporters don’t see it like that and seem intent on pushing new grammar schools through.

Kent grammars had 1,269 more pupils in the county educated in selective schools compared to five years ago.

“It has failed to make minority faith schools more diverse, because parents of other religions and none do not send their children to those schools”.

“As Michael Wilshaw [chief inspector of schools] said yesterday, with every grammar school you open you create three more secondary moderns with it”.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said Mrs May’s policy could be summed up as “shambolic”.

The government needs to explain how its plan to expand grammar schools would help its intended contribution to social mobility, particularly since the prime minister declared a one-nation inclusive approach to economic and social decision-making in front of Number 10 in July when she took office.

The former Labour cabinet minister said: “This is not selection educationally, it is selection socially”.

“Right now, the Southend grammars are most of south Essex’s local grammar schools, which means a lot of pupils from out of the area are applying to come to the schools, and attending on merit if they have passed the test”. By their very nature they exclude children who don’t pass a test aged 11.

She will say: “For too long we have tolerated a system that contains an arbitrary rule preventing selective schools from being established – sacrificing children’s potential because of dogma and ideology”.

Places are reserved for pupils who are eligible for the “pupil premium”, extra funding given by the government for pupils eligible for free school meals or who have left local authority care.