Grammar school plans are not 'going back to the Fifties', says Home Secretary

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has spoken out in support of the Prime Minister's plans for new selective schools, amid heavy criticism from fellow party members

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she was an "enthusiast" for grammar schools (Dan Kitwood/PA)

Government plans to reintroduce grammar schools does not mean the country is “going back to the Fifties”, the Home Secretary has claimed.

Amber Rudd said she was a grammar school “enthusiast” and defended proposals set out by Prime Minister Theresa May to lift the ban on selective new schools.

Her comments follow fierce backlash from Labour and fellow party members, who have criticised the move as elitist and likely to disadvantage poorer children.

Former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has also spoken out against the Prime Minister’s plans, calling the move “weird” and a negative step towards segregation in education.

But Ms Rudd has backed the plans, suggesting they would help boost choice for parents seeking the best schooling for their children.

Speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show about the selective school plans, Ms Rudd said she was “absolutely an enthusiast,” but that it “was not going back to the Fifties”.

Critics have suggested the expansion of selective education will lead to a new generation of “sheep and goats” as children are separated.

But Ms Rudd said that was “absolutely not” the case.

The Government could face a potentially difficult path as it seeks to navigate the plans through the Commons where it maintains a thin majority.

But even if the measures are backed by MPs they will still have to get through the Lords where Mrs May and the Conservatives do not have a majority.

The Prime Minister will be unable to overrule any decision by peers to reject lifting the ban because the measures were not outlined in the 2015 Tory manifesto.

Ms May has insisted her plans would give all children the chance to go to a “great school”.

Her proposals include requirements for grammars to promote social mobility by taking a proportion of pupils from lower-income backgrounds or opening “feeder” primary schools in disadvantaged areas.

Ms May has also suggested she would lift the cap on faith schools taking pupils from their own religious community.

Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, also defended the plans but downplayed their significance.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics: “I don't think there will be a sudden outbreak of thousands of new grammar schools across the country, I think it would allow a little bit more welcome freedom, particularly in areas where there is existing selection and changes of population, also - this has been identified - there may be particular demand in some more deprived communities.”

Six councils are already said to be making plans to take advantage of the changes.