Children on free meals given priority at grammars

Writing for the Times, Greg Hurst quotes The Sutton Trust’s James Turner in coverage of plans to give children on free meals given priority at grammar schools.

Almost one in five grammar schools has bowed to government pressure and agreed to give priority in their admissions to poor children.

Many more are considering similar moves in response to criticism that the remaining selective state schools are “stuffed full of middle-class kids”.

It means that children entitled to free school meals would get places at such schools before other pupils who may have scored more highly in 11-plus tests.

…

The Sutton Trust charity, whose research has been critical of grammar schools, welcomed the changes in admissions policies but said this was “just one part of the equation”.

James Turner, the trust’s director of programmes, said: “It is vital that the tests are as unbiased as possible. Schools should also reach out to a wider group of schools and pupils if the link between income and access to grammar schools is to be narrowed.”

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