Grammars’ moral duty to admit poorest pupils, by Gove

GRAMMAR schools have a ‘moral purpose’ to open their doors to the country’s poorest pupils, according to Michael Gove.

The Education Secretary has backed selective schools that are overhauling their admissions to accept more bright disadvantaged pupils, despite warnings that middle-class students face being discriminated against and squeezed out as a result.

Ministers want grammars to take into account the Coalition’s flagship pupil premium policy – extra cash given to schools for youngsters eligible for free school meals (FSM) – when accepting new students.

Thirty selective schools have already agreed to give preference to bright FSM pupils and another 58 are considering the move.

Mr Gove told a reception for the Grammar School Heads Association in London: ‘You are playing the leadership role in making sure that more children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the chance to enjoy an academic education.

‘And the great thing about that is that it’s a freedom that we have given you rather than a requirement that we’ve imposed. And what’s great is that schools are showing that they have an appropriate sense of moral purpose about extending the reach of those schools.’

It came as Lib Dem schools minister David Laws yesterday called on all 163 grammar schools to adopt ‘tutor-proof’ 11-plus tests to stop middle-class parents who pay for coaching giving their children an unfair advantage.