Shropshire headteacher hits back at grammar schools criticism

Gary Hickey, of Haberdashers' Adams in Newport, said he believed grammar schools could be a tool of social mobility.

It comes after a new study said a pupil's success is more to do with background than choice of school.

Academics at Durham University found selective schools performed no better than regular schools when their pupils' wealth and higher ability is taken into account.

They said that England's grammar schools take only a tiny proportion of pupils who are, or have been, eligible for free school meals.

Professor Stephen Gorard, from Durham's School of Education, said: "Dividing children into the most able and the rest from an early age does not appear to lead to better results for either group.

"This means that the kind of social segregation experienced by children in selective areas in England, and the damage to social cohesion that ensues, is for no clear gain.

"The findings mean that grammar schools in England endanger social cohesion for no clear improvement in overall results."

Priority

Mr Hickey said: "“I passionately believe in the power of the grammar school system to aid social mobility and to allow the most able pupils to achieve their potential so our admissions policy gives priority to ‘looked after children,’ those in receipt of pupil premium and those who are eligible to receive free school meals.

"Sadly in the past very few of these children have applied but now, thanks to the work we have been doing through our outreach programme, we are seeing an increase in numbers. We also offer a sixth form bursary for those who have been receiving pupil or service premium.

“Our outreach programme has included holding science, art and music events at Adams for local primary children so they can see some of the wonderful opportunities that are available and many of our sixth form pupils have visited the primary schools to help with maths mentoring and music sessions.

"We have also increased the work we do with pupils who have special education needs or a disability with currently over 80 students on our special education needs register.

“I would like to see all grammar schools offering priority to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in their admissions policy as well as ensuring local families do not feel pushed out of the admissions process with their local grammar school being a key part of their community.”