Conservative MPs are pressuring Boris Johnson to overturn the 24-year-old ban on new grammar schools when he introduces new education legislation later this year.
When the Schools Bill reaches the House of Commons, senior Conservative backbencher Sir Graham Brady plans to table an amendment.
This would repeal the ex-Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair’s 1998 moratorium on the establishment of new grammar schools.
Mr Johnson, according to The Times, might endorse a backbench push to repeal the restriction, or even propose his own ideas to enable new grammar schools.
David Canzini, the Prime Minister’s senior advisor, is thought to see the matter as a new point of contention with Labour.
Mr Johnson would not be able to overcome a Tory rebellion in the Commons if he sought to reject the backbench move, according to a Conservative source.
After 12 years in office, Labour said that Downing Street’s consideration of relaxing the restriction on new grammar schools demonstrated that the Conservatives had run out of ideas.
They also chastised the action for focusing on protecting the PM’s job after he was battered by Tory rebels in a no-confidence vote recently.
In England, there are currently 163 grammar schools with a total enrollment of roughly 176,000 students.
The New Labour government prohibited the establishment of new selective schools, but avoided closing those that already existed.
Mr Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, had planned to abolish the restriction on new grammar schools, but she delayed her plans after losing her Commons majority in the 2017 election.
Sir Graham, the chair of the Conservatives’ influential 1922 Committee, has long supported grammar schools and is a former student of Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.
‘It’s rather unusual that we still have a statutory restriction on any new selective schools after 12 years of Conservative-led government,’ he remarked.
‘At the absolute least, eliminating the restriction would provide people more freedom and flexibility in areas where it is needed.’
‘Red Wall’ Tory MPs elected in the 2019 general election have also expressed support for lifting the 1998 restriction.
Jonathan Gullis, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, indicated that the move could aid Mr Johnson’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
‘By abolishing Labour’s restriction, we can spread opportunity more evenly across the country and boost social mobility in regions like Teesside and Ashfield, where we are keen to level the playing field,’ he said.
According to a YouGov poll conducted in March, 29% of people feel the government should create additional grammar schools.
This is in contrast to 21% who believe the government should keep the current legislation in place, allowing existing grammar schools to operate but not new ones to be founded.
A comparable percentage, 23%, thought ministers should stop picking schools based on academic aptitude and force existing grammar schools to admit students of all levels.
According to the report, 27% of people are undecided about grammar schools.
Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said grammar schools “aren’t popular among parents,” “don’t improve educational achievements,” and “instill expectations of failure.”
‘Twelve years of Tory control, and it’s apparent than ever that they’ve run out of ideas,’ she continued. This isn’t about the future of our children; it’s about the future of the Prime Minister.’
There are “no present plans to build new grammar schools,” according to a government official, but existing grammars are “a valuable element of the school system.”
‘Through our new Schools Bill, we’re looking at ways to extend their DNA throughout the educational system,’ they added.