100 Tory MPs to restart fight to scrap ban on new grammars
for expansions in their constituencies. Campaigners believe now is their best chance for a generation of overturning Tony Blair’s block on the creation of English grammar schools, enshrined in a law created in 1998.
Don Porter, the founder of Conservative Voice, which first ran the campaign in 2014, said: “We will be relaunching the grammar schools campaign due to the consistent and considerable interest that we are receiving around the country.
“I am absolutely delighted with the tone, style and content of the new Prime Minister’s agenda. In my view, a fundamental part of social mobility will be the return of grammar schools throughout the country.”
In a 2014 survey of Tory backbenchers, a significant number pledged their support and he is confident that there is now wider backing for the change.
Scrapping the grammar schools ban became a lost cause for many Tories after David Cameron repeatedly closed the door on a change.
But confidence has been renewed after Ms Greening was installed in the Education Department earlier this month, using one of her first interviews to open the door on a policy change.
She told the BBC she was prepared to be “open minded” about allowing new grammar schools in England, saying it was “an important debate” to have.
There are currently 163 grammar schools left in England out of about 3,000 state secondaries, with a further 69 in Northern Ireland.
Mrs May and Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, have both previously supported new annexes being created to grammars in their constituencies.
Campaigners insist a majority of party members and MPs would back their return, while Nick Timothy, Mrs May’s chief of staff, has expressed interest in a rule change in the past.
Graham Brady, a Tory MP and chairman of the 1922 Committee, resigned from Mr Cameron’s front bench in protest at his refusal to back new grammar schools in 2007.
“In the drive to raise educational standards, we should only be concerned with what works, not with ideology,” he said. “We know the grammar schools make a big contribution to raising standards and increasing social mobility.”
With the Tories enjoying a working majority of just a dozen, any policy change would likely have to win the support of some Labour MPs to pass, given the chance of rebellions. To widen the idea’s appeal, campaigners for the change will attempt to paint grammar schools as a driver of social mobility that fits in with Mrs May’s “One Nation” agenda. They will suggest that the first new 20 grammar schools are created in socially deprived areas to challenge the image that they are targeted at the middle class.
Dominic Raab, the Tory MP for Esher and Walton, who was justice minister until the reshuffle this month, supports a change in the rules.
“It’s good news the new government is looking again at the position. Grammar schools have a track record of driving social mobility,” he said. “The key will be expanding their benefits from a middle-class preserve to reach bright youngsters from some of the most disadvantaged communities.”