The government has “lost the argument” on grammars, it has been claimed, after an influential cross-party committee of MPs published a highly sceptical report saying ministers have yet to prove the case for opening a new wave of selective schools.

After hearing wide-ranging evidence from academics and policy experts, the chair of the Commons education committee, Neil Carmichael, said the focus on opening new grammar schools was an unnecessary distraction.

The Tory MP warned that if the government wanted to push ahead with its plans, it would have to demonstrate how opening new grammars would enhance social mobility and improve all children’s educational outcomes, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The report will be unwelcome reading for Theresa May, who has made the opening of more grammar schools a key policy in her bid to make Britain “a meritocracy”. Last week it emerged that the government hoped to open the first wave of its new grammar schools by 2020.

It also comes at a time of widespread disquiet among Tory backbenchers about school funding changes, announced in December by the education secretary, Justine Greening, which they claim will result in schools in their constituencies losing thousands of pounds, rather than gaining as they had hoped.



Launching the report on Monday, Carmichael said: “The government has yet to prove the case for opening a new wave of grammar schools. The prime minister rightly talks of making Britain a great meritocracy.

“If the government wants to push ahead with new grammar schools it must demonstrate how this aids social mobility and improves educational outcomes for all, most especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

“The focus on opening new grammar schools is, in my view, an unnecessary distraction from the need to ensure all our young people are equipped with the skills to compete in the modern workplace.”

The education committee – the majority of whose members are Conservative – demanded the government publish a full assessment of the impact of new grammar schools on the wider school system.

MPs are concerned about the potential consequences for school funding and teacher supply, both of which are described as already in crisis by many in the sector, as well as the broader impact on other, non-selective schools that stand to lose their most able students and staff to grammars.

The report also urges the government to explain how new grammars would help close the attainment gap within the wider school system, not just for individual pupils.

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And it recommends that 11-plus-style selection tests should not be the only basis for grammar school admissions after the schools minister, Nick Gibb, appearing before the committee last November, said a tutor-proof test was the “holy grail” of selective education.

Russell Hobby, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the report showed the government had lost the argument on grammar schools and called for a rethink of the policy.



“To focus on schools that ignore 90% of the population is a massive distraction. To pour millions of pounds into this system when state school budgets are at breaking point is a terrible use of public funds.

“No other high-performing education system in the world uses selection at 11. It is too late to counter disadvantage. The government would do better to invest more in early years education, where the evidence shows you can make more of an impact on a child’s future prospects.

“There is strong evidence that selection at 11 damages outcomes overall. There is no support for this from school leaders; the plans to expand selection should be rethought entirely.”

Responding to the committee findings, Sir Peter Lampl, chair of the Sutton Trust education charity said until existing grammar schools demonstrate they can be vehicles for social mobility, no more should be opened.

“The education select committee is right to urge better evidence that new grammar schools can close the attainment gap,” said Lampl. “Our research has shown that less than 3% of grammar school entrants are eligible for free school meals, compared to 18% in their catchment areas. Too few low and middle income pupils get into existing grammar schools.

Meanwhile, a department for education spokesperson said that thanks to government reforms, the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers is already narrowing. “But there is more to do to make sure that all children, whatever their background, can go as far as their talents will take them.

“That’s precisely why we have set out plans to make even more good school places available, in more parts of the country, including scrapping the ban on new grammar school places, and harnessing the resources and expertise of universities, independent and faith schools.”