Schools That Work For Everyone Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Schools That Work For Everyone

Clive Efford Excerpts
Monday 14th May 2018

(6 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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Voluntary-aided schools have been around since before my hon. Friend and I were born. There are thousands of them in the country and they play an important role in local communities.

Clive Efford Portrait Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab)
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The pupil premium has been in existence for seven years now, yet the percentage of pupils in grammar schools receiving free school meals is less than 2.5% on average. What evidence is there that grammar schools play any role in social mobility or have any intention of doing so?

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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There are some particularly striking examples of individual schools that have gone rather further, including the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham. We know that when children from disadvantaged backgrounds go to selective schools, they make more rapid progress. I want more children to have that opportunity.