Grammar schools the answer, says Paul Nuttall

MEP Paul Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader

The government has been accused of being "pig-headed" over proposals to prioritise poor children for school places.

"There is a perfectly straightforward and fair answer to this problem - and that is creating grammar schools," said local MEP Paul Nuttall.

"The Tories must know that is the sensible solution rather than discriminating against pupils from middle class families but they are being pig-headed about it.

"There should be a level playing field - not that there are many left - for all school children so that they all get the same opportunities to maximise their talents.

"The 11 plus exam means that the academically gifted go forward to grammar schools, with the 13 plus for late developers. The brightest are those who are likely to go on to top jobs and be the wealth creators that our economy needs.

"But that shouldn't for a minute mean that those who fail the exam are written off.

"All schools must strive for excellence and for those not academically minded must receive the skills and training they need to succeed in life. 

"The proposal, which will go out to consultation, would apply to children subject to the pupil premium. This is a subsidy system which gives schools an extra annual payment of £1,300 for each primary pupil and £935 for each secondary pupil who receives free school meals.

"The cash is designed to help schools with poor pupils put in greater resources.

"Free schools and academies can currently discriminate in favour of children on free school meals, but other state schools, including grammar schools, must apply to the Department for Education for permission.

"Rules currently do not permit them to give priority based on their parents’ financial status. The exemption would allow them to give preference to those eligible for the early years pupil premium, the pupil premium and the service premium."