Matt Warman MP has voiced his support for the Government’s plans to allow more grammar schools to open, making clear that in the right environment they can be part of an eco-system to improve social mobility.
In a Commons statement on grammar schools, Matt pointed out to the new Education Secretary, Justine Greening MP, that around a third of pupils in Lincolnshire attend the existing grammar schools in the county, many from more deprived backgrounds.
He noted that the Government must also recognise the contribution made by comprehensive schools in selective areas, which have evolved to help all pupils access an education which is best suited to them. With the right balance, he said, the Government’s reforms can make sure that every students gets the education they deserve.
He also highlighted his support for the National Association of Secondary Moderns, which is led by the Giles Academy in Old Leake, Boston.
Matt later commented, “In Lincolnshire, we can see how a diverse mixture of schools can provide excellent opportunities for students from all backgrounds, so I support the Government’s plans to allow more grammar schools to be opened. All of Britain can learn from Lincolnshire’s brilliant schools. The proposals will give parents more choice, help students to thrive, and be an engine for social mobility.”
“We must never overlook the vital contribution of comprehensive, secondary modern, schools to the wider education system which, as we have seen in our area, have evolved over the past decades and do excellent work in selective areas. We must ensure that all children have access to an excellent education, at a school which is best suited to their abilities; both grammar and comprehensive schools play an important role in these reforms and I would encourage all interested parties to engage with the consultation to put their views forward.”
Notes to editors:
- Matt’s contribution can be found via the following link: http://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-09-12/debates/16091212000001/SchoolsThatWorkForEveryone#contribution-16091212000175
- The Government’s public consultation, “Schools that Work for Everyone”, is open until 12th December 2016, and available here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/school-frameworks/schools-that-work-for-everyone