But critics say allowing new grammar schools means creating a two tier system, and risks children being branded as “failures” at the age of 11.
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Sir Michael Wilshaw, the Government’s outgoing chief inspector of schools, on Monday dismissed the selective model and said it would fail the poorest children.
She added: “In a true meritocracy, we should not be apologetic about stretching the most academically able to the very highest standards of excellence”.
“And I want Britain to be a place where advantage is based on merit not privilege; where it is your talent and hard work that matter, not where you were born, who your parents are or what your accent sounds like”.
The Prime Minister told the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories she wanted to create a “21st century education system” with an “element of selection”, sources who were at the meeting said.
Lib Dem education spokesman John Pugh said: “There is no such thing as inclusive grammar schools”.
The Government’s policies of granting schools autonomy have led to “covert selection”, with access to some schools dictated by parents’ ability to pay for expensive uniforms and educational activities and make “significant” contributions to school funds, said Ms Keates.
According to Mr Burns Dorset is one of the few places left in the United Kingdom where grammar schools are still part of the education offer.
Lincolnshire NUT Divisional Secretary Ken Rustidge said that he was concerned about how the proposals would impact on non-grammar schools in the county.
Theresa May’s plans for a new generation of grammar schools have been met with opposition from within her own party.
Speaking in the Commons, New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne said he did “not relish the prospect of informing parents” whose children failed the 11-plus exam that their sons and daughters would have to be bussed to other schools.
“Labour wants the best for all our children, not just the lucky few the Tories care about”, Ashworth said.
For too long we have tolerated a system that contains an arbitrary rule preventing selective schools from being established – sacrificing childrens potential because of dogma and ideology.
Although the policy was not mentioned in the Conservative Party manifesto a year ago, it is very popular among grassroots Tories.
What are Theresa May’s plans for education reform?
Under the plans, new grammar schools will have to accept a proportion of pupils from lower income households, while also requiring them to either establish a new, non-selective free school in their area or sponsor an under-performing academy. The Bluecoat is the only grammar remaining in Liverpool, but the city does have a handful of partially selective schools, including King David High School.
“There’s no evidence at all that that is the answer to numerous problems in our education system”.
Theresa May set out some of examples of how these arrangements are already working in practice.
Universities hoping to charge more than £6,000 per term meanwhile will be forced to open or take over schools locally, which are under-performing. The results have obviously been outstanding with a reported 100 per cent of students receiving an A or A* grade in GCSE maths.
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It comes as education secretary Justine Greening faced questions from MPs yesterday about the expansion of grammar schools after a document outlining proposals to open new ones was photographed outside Number 10 earlier this week. “My education was varied: I went to a grammar school that became a comprehensive – and for a short time I attended a private school”.
