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| Theresa May defends grammar school plans | Theresa May defends grammar school plans |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has defended plans for new or expanded grammar schools in England. | Theresa May has defended plans for new or expanded grammar schools in England. |
| The PM told Conservative MPs she wanted "an element of selection" in the education system, but that new grammar schools would not be forced on areas that did not want them. | The PM told Conservative MPs she wanted "an element of selection" in the education system, but that new grammar schools would not be forced on areas that did not want them. |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the government would "widen choice" but this would not mean children who failed entry exam going to "sink schools". | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the government would "widen choice" but this would not mean children who failed entry exam going to "sink schools". |
| Labour said creating grammar schools would lead to "social segregation". | Labour said creating grammar schools would lead to "social segregation". |
| Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner will quiz the government on its plans after being granted an urgent question on the subject. | |
| Mrs May's comments on Wednesday evening came after a document outlining proposals to open new grammar schools was snapped by a photographer outside 10 Downing Street on Tuesday. | Mrs May's comments on Wednesday evening came after a document outlining proposals to open new grammar schools was snapped by a photographer outside 10 Downing Street on Tuesday. |
| Addressing the 1922 committee of backbench MPs, the PM said "selection by house price" already existed within the state school system, with wealthier parents able to ensure a place for their children at high-performing schools by buying homes in the catchment area. | Addressing the 1922 committee of backbench MPs, the PM said "selection by house price" already existed within the state school system, with wealthier parents able to ensure a place for their children at high-performing schools by buying homes in the catchment area. |
| The government intends to publish its plans for school reform in the autumn. | The government intends to publish its plans for school reform in the autumn. |
| According to the Daily Telegraph, the PM will publish a green paper and deliver a speech setting out her plans. | |
| Grammar schools are state secondaries whose pupils are selected by examination at age 10 to 11. | Grammar schools are state secondaries whose pupils are selected by examination at age 10 to 11. |
| After the Second World War secondary schools in England were mostly organised into two basic types - grammar schools focused on academic studies and secondary modern schools intended for children going into trades rather than higher education. | |
| Some argued that the selective education system reinforced class divisions and meant children were labelled "failures" at an early age - and from 1965 the then Labour government ordered local education authorities to start phasing out grammar schools and secondary moderns and replace them with non-selective comprehensive schools. | Some argued that the selective education system reinforced class divisions and meant children were labelled "failures" at an early age - and from 1965 the then Labour government ordered local education authorities to start phasing out grammar schools and secondary moderns and replace them with non-selective comprehensive schools. |
| Different parts of England moved at different speeds and some local authorities - such as Kent - kept their selective systems. There are currently about 163 grammar schools in England - out of some 3,000 state secondaries - and a further 69 in Northern Ireland. | Different parts of England moved at different speeds and some local authorities - such as Kent - kept their selective systems. There are currently about 163 grammar schools in England - out of some 3,000 state secondaries - and a further 69 in Northern Ireland. |
| Under a law created by the Labour government in 1998, no new grammar schools are allowed to open in England. Education policy is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Under a law created by the Labour government in 1998, no new grammar schools are allowed to open in England. Education policy is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Norman Smith, assistant political editor | Norman Smith, assistant political editor |
| Grammar schools remain a highly emotive political issue - but will form only one part of a much bigger package of school reform, that could include allowing free schools to introduce academic selection. | Grammar schools remain a highly emotive political issue - but will form only one part of a much bigger package of school reform, that could include allowing free schools to introduce academic selection. |
| In an effort to overcome concern - including in her own party - that grammars are socially divisive, Mrs May will suggest they should only be set up where there is parental demand and priority would be given to less affluent areas. | In an effort to overcome concern - including in her own party - that grammars are socially divisive, Mrs May will suggest they should only be set up where there is parental demand and priority would be given to less affluent areas. |
| Ministers also want the entry exams to be less susceptible to coaching and there may be different entry requirements for poorer pupils, and grammar schools would be expected to have close ties with local primary schools and to demonstrate they were socially inclusive and benefitted the local community. | Ministers also want the entry exams to be less susceptible to coaching and there may be different entry requirements for poorer pupils, and grammar schools would be expected to have close ties with local primary schools and to demonstrate they were socially inclusive and benefitted the local community. |
| What do you think about grammar schools? Are you a parent, teacher or a former grammar school pupil? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments and experiences. | What do you think about grammar schools? Are you a parent, teacher or a former grammar school pupil? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments and experiences. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Mr Fallon, whose Sevenoaks, Kent, constituency got approval for the first new "grammar school" - technically described as an annexe to an existing one - for five decades last year, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The aim is very clear - it's to have more choice for parents in every part of the country." | Mr Fallon, whose Sevenoaks, Kent, constituency got approval for the first new "grammar school" - technically described as an annexe to an existing one - for five decades last year, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The aim is very clear - it's to have more choice for parents in every part of the country." |
| 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". | 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". |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, former Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the government did not have a mandate to expand grammar schools, accusing it of "foisting their own evidence-free prejudices upon us". | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, former Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the government did not have a mandate to expand grammar schools, accusing it of "foisting their own evidence-free prejudices upon us". |
| The government's social mobility tsar, Alan Milburn, warned that a return to grammars could be "a social mobility disaster", telling The Guardian: "This is not selection educationally, it is selection socially." | The government's social mobility tsar, Alan Milburn, warned that a return to grammars could be "a social mobility disaster", telling The Guardian: "This is not selection educationally, it is selection socially." |
| The Conservative Party manifesto for 2015 promised to "allow all good schools to expand, whether they are maintained schools, academies, faith schools or grammar schools". | The Conservative Party manifesto for 2015 promised to "allow all good schools to expand, whether they are maintained schools, academies, faith schools or grammar schools". |
| Ms 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." | "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." |
| What do you think about grammar schools? Are you a parent, teacher or a former grammar school pupil? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments and experiences. | What do you think about grammar schools? Are you a parent, teacher or a former grammar school pupil? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments and experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |