Children of ‘just managing families left out by grammars’

“There is a strong indication that families on below average earnings are not being helped by the current grammar school system,” said the Sutton Trust.

Grammar schools in England should not expand until the government can ensure fair admissions, the charity argues.

Ministers said their plans would address these issues.

***

The Sutton Trust looked at entry to selective schools in 2015, according to neighbourhood deprivation.

In selective education areas outside London, the researchers found a third (34%) of Year 7 pupils were from the richest neighbourhoods while only 4% came from the poorest and 11% were from neighbourhoods with below average incomes.

The report says that in these poorer areas, children from non-disadvantaged groups – those not-receiving free school meals – are likely to be from the “just about managing” families, which the prime minister has said she wants to prioritise.

But the researchers found these children “were substantially less likely to attend grammar schools” than children from better off areas.

“A lack of access to grammar schools isn’t merely restricted to those at the very bottom of the scale,” say the researchers.

“There is a steep social gradient across the wealth distribution.”

***

Read the full article here.