How ‘just about managing’ families lose out in battle for grammars

Theresa May’s ‘Jams’ are less likely to send children to grammars than wealthier families, according to a new report by the Sutton Trust.

The charity found children from ‘just about managing’ families make up just 16 per cent of grammar intakes in selective areas – compared with 35 per cent from rich homes.

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The researchers defined Jams as those families claiming in-work tax credits and living in the bottom 40 per cent of neighbourhoods in terms of wealth.

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Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said: ‘Today’s research raises concerns about the Government’s plans to use new grammars as a vehicle for social mobility.

‘We need to get existing grammars moving in the right direction before we consider expanding their number.’

The charity’s research split families into five groups based on income, with the lowest two groups judged to be Jams, and the wealthiest families occupying the top group.

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The Sutton Trust said its research suggested that even when children are similarly bright, the most economically disadvantaged are still under-represented in selective schools.

The data also found that among pupils eligible for free school meals, white children had the lowest rate of entry to grammar schools.

In 2016, 0.7 per cent of disadvantaged White British children went to a grammar, compared with 0.9 per cent of White non-British children, 0.8 per cent of Black children, 2.8 per cent of Indian children, 5.2 per cent of Chinese children, and 1.5 per cent of other Asian children.

The report noted that higher attainment levels are part of the reason why parents like grammar schools.

It found that in grammar schools in 2014/15, 97 per cent of non-disadvantaged pupils and 93 per cent of disadvantaged pupils achieved 5 A*-C grades at GCSE including English and Maths, compared to 84 per cent of non-disadvantaged pupils and 64 per cent of disadvantaged pupils at the country’s top comprehensive schools.

However, the charity said this gap is likely to be because of the attainment levels of pupils upon entering the grammar schools, as opposed to the school itself.

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A Department for Education spokesperson said: ‘The Sutton Trust itself has highlighted the positive impact grammar schools can have on pupils from less well-off backgrounds and that’s exactly why we want more young people to benefit.

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