In light of a confirming Theresa May’s plan to create new grammar schools and expanding existing selective schools Ms May has been forced to defend herself in yesterday’s Prime Ministers Questions. The PM told Conservative MPs she wanted to create a “21^st century education system” with an “element of selection" in the education system, but that new grammar schools would not be forced on areas that did not want them. Labour said creating grammar schools would lead to "social segregation."

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner described the Conservatives' education policy as "shambolic." She said: "The prime minister talks about social inclusion while at the same time advocating social segregation through grammar school selection.” "No child's life chances should be defined by a test they sit at the age of 11. The priority for our education system should be investment to raise standards not investment to create social exclusion." Mrs May’s plans would stop the best state schools becoming the preserve of wealthy families who are buying homes in the catchment area.  

Responding to critics she answered: “We have already got selection haven’t we – it’s called 'selection by house price’.” A report this week found that living near a good state school helped to increase house prices by up to 74 per cent compared to other properties nearby. According to research from Lloyds Bank many parents are willing to pay an average of £53,000 extra to secure homes close to schools with the best academic outcomes. Average house prices have now reached £366,744 in the catchment areas surrounding England’s top 30 state schools, compared to a general average of £313,318 elsewhere. 

Education Secretary told MPs in the Commons: "To complain about one aspect of our schools system and say we shouldn't have a debate is untenable. We do believe that selection can play a role.”

"We need to look at how grammars can work effectively with those that don't get to them." Asked by a Conservative MP for an assurance that there will be no return to the 11-plus, Ms Greening said that there will be "no return to the past."   Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the government would "widen choice" but this would not mean children who failed entry exam going to "sink schools." Supporters of grammar schools say that children from poor backgrounds are helped to make the most of their potential because entry to such schools is on the basis of raw ability. But many argue that, in fact, the vast majority of those doing well in entrance tests are children whose parents have paid for them to be privately tutored outside school, something the parents of children from poorer backgrounds would not be able to afford.  

Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools watchdog Ofsted, this week said the idea that poor children would benefit from a return of grammar schools was "tosh" and "nonsense."  

After telling MPs in last night PMQs she wants a new generation of grammar schools to be “inclusive and not exclusive,” Mrs May will publish a green paper later today. The PM wants an education system that “catered for the different needs of all children” and indicated that grammar schools have a role to play. She suggested that some of the Government’s 500 new free schools, announced by David Cameron shortly before he stepped down, could be grammars. “She said she didn’t want a situation where parents wanted a selective school only to be told they couldn’t have one,” a source at the meeting said. She concluded to say under David Cameron, 1.4 million children were now in good or outstanding schools. But “there are still far too many who are missing out on quality education – it is all about access to opportunity.”