House prices ‘to soar 10 per cent’ in areas with new grammar schools

performing Weald of Kent girls’ grammar in Tonbridge nine miles away, would make the town even more attractive.

However, he conceded that rising house prices would have the ‘unfortunate side effect’ of making properties too expensive for less wealthy families.

It is not yet clear whether the new 450-pupil satellite school – which has sidestepped laws banning new grammars by being linked to an existing one – will be surrounded by a catchment area giving priority to pupils who pass the 11-plus entrance exam.

Labour’s education spokesman Lucy Powell warned that rising house prices would mean some areas become out of reach for poorer families, whose children are supposed to benefit most from grammars. ‘Grammars are becoming the preserve of the tutored and this news means we’ll see more selection based on income not ability, which flies in the face of David Cameron’s claim to care about social mobility,’ she added.

But Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘The shortage of grammar schools is a disgrace. It is appalling that there aren’t enough to meet the demand, particularly in deprived areas.’

Currently, up to 12 pupils compete for each place at England’s 164 surviving grammars.

Labour passed laws in 1998 outlawing the creation of new grammar schools, arguing that they creamed off the brightest at age 11, and consigned those who failed the entrance exam to a second-class education. THE row over ‘new’ grammar schools escalated yesterday after experts warned that many families could be priced out of areas where they are built.

Estate agents said that the cost of homes near the new satellite school in Sevenoaks, Kent – which was controversially given the go-ahead last week – is expected to jump by ten per cent.

A similar effect would be seen in other parts of the country where similar schools are expected to open, including Maidenhead in Berkshire and Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Grammars in Sutton, Dorset, Medway and Lincolnshire are also thought to be considering expanding in light of the decision.

Estate agents said that wealthy families, anxious to avoid the spiralling cost of private school fees, will pay a large premium to live near a high-performing state school where they can educate their children for free.

Edward Church, who heads Strutt & Parker in Kent, said the creation of the new site in Sevenoaks, which is due to open in two years as an annexe to the high-