More grammar schools ‘would benefit all kids’ MP: Planned expansion gives working class a fairer chance

NEW grammar schools in the West Midlands would give bright pupils from poorer families the same chances middle class children take for granted.

That’s the claim from a West Midlands MP who is backing the Government’s controversial plans to expand selective education.

Julian Knight, Conservative MP for Solihull, said the current comprehensive school system actually favours the rich, who give their children an unfair advantage by buying houses close to the top-performing schools.

But the Tory proposals were condemned by Roger Godsiff, the Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, who said grammar schools divided children into winners and losers at the age of 11.

A selective school system traditionally involves sitting exams at 11 years old, with those who pass going to a grammar school.

The Government has not yet for- mally announced plans to open more grammar schools but the Department for Education’s most senior civil servant was photographed carrying a document into No 10 which appeared to set out the proposals.

And the grammar school plan may be announced at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham in October, it has been reported.

Writing for the Post’s sister paper, the Birmingham Mail, Mr Knight said: “Our current, comprehensive system is superficially fair but masks huge inequalities, and creates a postcode lottery which actually creates, via house prices, de facto fees to get into the best schools.

“Middle-class parents are also much better placed to make up any shortcomings in their child’s education with homework support and tuition.

“The deck is unfairly against the disadvantaged.

“By contrast, for decades grammars provided a ladder which poor but able children could climb, giving them the opportunity to fulfil their potential and build a better life.” stacked

But Mr Godsiff said he was almost a victim of the selective education system when he failed his 11 Plus exam as a child and was sent to a “central school”.

He said he was fortunate the school was transformed into a mixed-ability comprehensive while he was there.

“There are some very good grammar schools around, and there are others that aren’t so good,” he said. “That’s the same with all schools. “But if you create an elite group of schools then by the very nature of it you end up with, for want of a better description, people at the bottom.

“You actually divide society up at the age of 11 into those who can pass an exam and those who fail it.

“I was one of those who failed but I was given a second chance because my school turned into a comprehensive school.”

Birmingham Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe (Lab) said Birmingham did not need new grammar schools but he praised the existing grammar schools in the city, including those run by the King Edward VI Foundation.

Our current comprehensive system masks huge inequalities... it creates, via house prices, de facto fees to get into the best schools MP Julian Knight, above