Mrs May had sought to play on both her and Mr Corbyn's grammar school backgrounds, adding: "It is members of the Labour Party who will take the advantages of a good education for themselves and pull up the ladder behind them for other people."

Mr Corbyn replied: "It's not about pulling up ladders, it's about providing a ladder for every child."

Earlier in their exchanges, Mr Corbyn - who received loud cheers from his MPs as he pursued the issue - asked if Mrs May could name any experts who backed her policy.

He also pressed the PM if pupils at potential "feeder primary schools in poorer areas" will receive automatic places at grammar school.

But Mr Corbyn received no answers as Mrs May stuck to her line of the reforms offering "more opportunities" for children.

Is Hinkley Point about to get the go-ahead?

Theresa May will finally allow the controversial Hinkley Point nuclear power plant to go ahead this week, it was reported earlier.

But the Prime Minister's official spokesman stressed that the deadline for a decision on Hinkley Point remained the end of September.

There had been speculation that any announcement would have to be made on Thursday this week, when the Commons rises for a recess lasting until October 10.