Justine Greening announces grammar schools plan

THIS week in parliament, Education Minister Justine Greening announced her plan to introduce more grammar schools back into the country. 

The education secretary declared that she wants to prevent a return to the past of the 11 plus exams.

She said: “We cannot rule anything out that will help us grow opportunity for all and give more people the chance to do well in life.

“There will be no return to the simplistic, binary choice of the past where schools separate children into winners and losers, successes or failures.”

With this sentiment, the government want to create grammar schools that are inclusive of all pupils; giving equal opportunity to all.

Labour however, opposed the view by stating it will be the fortunate children who can afford tuition fees that will get ahead; and the majority that will be left behind.

Justine Greening quashed this prospect by stating the new system will be different.

She said: “It will be a 21st-century approach, precisely not one that’s rooted in the 1960s and 1970s” adding, “this government wants to focus on the future.”

Greening’s Labour counterpart, Angela Rayner, criticised this approach, by outlining a series of studies, indicating that grammar schools hinder social mobility and tend to be disproportionately occupied by children from more privileged families.

Rayner said: “This policy will not help social mobility but will entrench inequality and disadvantage.

“It will be the lucky few who can afford the tuition that will get ahead and the disadvantaged that will be left behind. A policy for the few at the expense of the many.”

Many have argued since, that the government need to concentrate on the majority of students.

Tracy Hatton, head mistress of Cardinal Langley High School in Middleton, Manchester, said: “The government needs to focus on the 80% of the population that survive off normal incomes, rather than the higher 10% that can afford private education.

“It is about giving all children equality to do well in life.”

Amid such scrutiny, the prime minister has declared that she wants to develop a country that caters for all classes.

Theresa May has since stated that she wants to create “inclusive” grammar schools so that pupils from all backgrounds can attend.