Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what evidence her Department holds on the merits of grammar schools for social mobility.

Grammar schools’ stretching education levels the playing field between disadvantaged students and their more advantaged peers. For example, one study[1] found that in areas where at least 10 per cent of places are selective, pupils eligible for free school meals in grammar schools gain around 7 to 8 GCSE grades more than they would have achieved if they had not gone to a selective school. Across all pupils in grammar schools the average gain was 3.5 grades. Furthermore, disadvantaged pupils who attended grammar schools are more than three times as likely to go to Russell Group universities after finishing sixth form than those who attend comprehensive schools[2].

It is important to remember, however, the evidence we have is based on the existing selective school system, not the model we are proposing for the future system. We recognise that selective schools currently admit too few disadvantaged pupils and we want to look at how we can improve this. We are consulting on options for a new schools system, which will also make sure selective schools support non-selective education in their area to further support increased social mobility.

[1] Atkinson, Gregg and McConnell (2004) The results of 11 Plus selection: an investigation into equity and efficiency of outcomes for pupils in selective LEAs, by Bristol University.

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/destinations-of-ks4-and-ks5-pupils-2015-provisional