Commenting on the news that the Department for Education will launch a Selective Schools Expansion Fund, Sir Peter Lampl, Founder of the Sutton Trust, said:
“As the government supports the expansion of existing grammar schools, it is right to insist that they do more to improve access and to increase the numbers of disadvantaged pupils. Our research has shown how socially selective grammars are: you are ten times more likely to go to one if you went to a prep school than if you are on free school meals.
“Existing grammars should be expected to do more to support social mobility. We welcome the commitment by the grammar school heads to prioritise pupil premium pupils and improve outreach. However, all grammars should ensure that disadvantaged pupils who reach the minimum test score are admitted by right – as happens at some Birmingham grammars.
“We welcome the decision to maintain the 50% rule for faith schools: it is important that successful faith schools are not socially selective by virtue of overly restrictive admissions policies.”
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