And she set out a series of measures meant to ensure that new and expanded grammars make places available to children from disadvantaged backgrounds and help improve standards in non-selective schools.
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The government is facing a backlash after giving its green paper the title “schools that work for everyone” – despite the document focusing mostly on high-ability pupils, and completely omitting any mention of special schools.
She said: “What we now need to do is look at how we can have a 21st century education policy that takes a pragmatic look at the role of grammars and, of course, across the whole of the system”.
“One is effectively a grammar school where bright children get a highly focused academic education. And a future in which Britain’s education system shifts decisively to support ordinary working-class families”. Some £50 million a year is available to support the expansion of good or existing grammars.
But it was her bid to allow more single faith schools and selective “grammar” schools that caused uproar in Britain, where governments have tried to phase out academic selection of children to end what is described as a 1950s two-tier system.
May’s plans also include “tougher” rules for private schools to defend their charitable status.
May said she wanted “a diversity of provision for every child” so they could receive an education that was right for them. Many grammar school students continue to perform exceptionally well at GCSE, A-Level and the International Baccalaureate and, as a outcome, many transfer to top university destinations both in the United Kingdom and overseas. And we know that they want to expand.
In fact poorer children in local authorities that now operate a grammar school system perform worse than those in non-selective authorities, and are far less likely to score highly at GCSE.
According to May this shake up in the school system is aimed towards allowing academically gifted children to excel to their full potential even if they come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
James Courtenay, Southend councillor responsible for children and learning, says he believes new grammar schools in south Essex could provide more spaces locally for youngsters.
Mrs May said the European Union referendum in June had exposed a “profound sense of frustration” among large sections of the population about the struggles they face – including the fight to find a good school for their children. “This is the plan to deliver more great schools and set Britain on the path to be the great meritocracy it can be”.
“I want every parent to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children will get the chance to go to a great school”.
Mrs May added: “I want this country to be a meritocracy”.
Plans are also afoot in Mrs May’s Maidenhead constituency, as well as in Central Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and in Sutton, south London, an existing grammar is hoping to open a satellite school in nearby Croydon.
Will English universities be forced to sponsor schools? “But our ambition as a nation should be to achieve those excellent outcomes for a larger number of children”.
Ms Greening said she would “very much like to see some of the most disadvantaged communities in our country perhaps get the chance now to have a grammar”.
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Lib Dem leader Tim Farron warned the Government that pursuing “out of date” reforms “will only bring battles and an inevitable defeat in the Lords”.
