21st June 2022
Prime Minister Under Pressure to Build a New Generation of Grammar Schools
PM Could Overturn 24-Year-Old Ban
Boris Johnson is facing pressure from Tory MPs to lift the 24-year-old ban on new grammar schools when school legislation is updated later this year. Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Graham Brady is posed to table an amendment to the forthcoming Schools Bill when it reaches the House of Commons. This would lift the ban on new grammar schools being created that was brought in by ex-Labour prime minister Tony Blair in 1998. According to The Times, Mr Johnson could support the backbench campaign to lift the ban, or even table plans of his own on allowing new grammar schools.
Labour Party Response
Labour claimed that Downing Street considering lifting the ban on new grammar schools showed the Tories were 'out of ideas' after 12 years in power.
They also criticised the move for being focussed on saving the PM's future, after his battering by Tory rebels in a recent no-confidence vote. In 1998, the New Labour government banned the creation of new selective schools, but PM Tony Blair steered away from shutting down those that already existed.
Labour's shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said that grammar schools 'aren't popular among parents', 'don't improve outcomes across the education', and 'ingrain expectations of failure. Twelve years of Tory rule and clearer than ever they are out of ideas. This isn’t about our children’s future — it’s about the PM’s future.'
Overturning the Ban
Senior MP Sir Graham Brady the chair of the Tories' powerful 1922 Committee will attempt to amend Government legislation. He states; 'After 12 years of Conservative-led government it is really very odd that we still have a statutory ban on any new selective schools. At the very least lifting that ban would provide freedom and flexibility for people where there is demand.' Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis suggested the move could help Mr Johnson with his 'levelling up' agenda. He said: 'By lifting Labour’s ban, we can spread opportunity fairly across the country and turbocharge social mobility in places like Teesside and Ashfield which we are determined to level up.' Polling by YouGov in March revealed that 29% of the UK believed the Government should build more grammar schools, compared to 21% who thought the Government should retain the existing laws, by allowing existing grammar schools to continue but not allowing new ones to be built. 23% believed ministers should stop schools selecting by academic ability and force existing grammar schools to be opened to children of all abilities. 27% were undecided.