Money on offer to expand grammar schools
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS will controversially be handed tens of millions of pounds to allow them to expand, the Government has said.
But school leaders criticised the decision, saying they were “disappointed” that the Government was spending “scarce funding” on expanding grammars.
Grammars that want to take on more pupils will have to submit plans setting out what action they will take to boost the numbers of disadvantaged pupils they admit – similar to the access agreements signed by universities that want to charge £9,250 tuition fees.
The schools – which select pupils based on academic ability – will also have to show proof of a need for extra places in their area.
There are 163 grammar schools in England and, if all were given an equal share of the £50m pot which will be available in the 2018/19 academic year, they would each receive just over £300,000.
As well as individual agreements, there will be a memorandum of understanding with the Grammar School Heads’ Association (GSHA), which represents the majority of selective school leaders, which will set out the types of action schools will need to take in order to expand.
It is understood that there will be sanctions if grammar schools do not meet the terms of their action plans.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said hundreds of thousands of new places have been created since 2010, but the Government wants to “make sure every family can access a good school”.
“By creating new schools where they are needed most and helping all great schools to grow, we can give parents greater choice in looking at schools that are right for their family – and give children of all backgrounds access to a world-class education,” he said.
But Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We are disappointed that the Government has decided to spend scarce funding on expanding grammar schools.
“While there are many good selective schools, just as there are many good non-selective schools, the evidence is clear that expanding the number of selective places is likely to be damaging to social mobility.”
Mr Barton added: “High-ability students do just as well in good non-selective schools as they do in good grammar schools, and funding is therefore better spent on creating places in the former rather than the latter.
“This is important at any time but particularly so when funding is very tight as a result of Government under-investment in the education system.”
GSHA chief executive Jim Skinner said: “We are very pleased that, like other good and outstanding schools, selective schools now have access to a fund to allow them to expand their premises.
“This is particularly important at a time when there are increasing numbers of pupils reaching secondary age and such high demand from parents for selective school places.”