Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have assessed the relative strengths of grammar schools and Sure Start Centres in relation to ensuring social mobility; and if so, what data were used and which stakeholders were consulted.

This Government is committed to tackling poverty and disadvantage, and enabling all children to have the opportunity to achieve their potential, at every stage of their education.

99% of selective schools are Good or Outstanding, and 82% are Outstanding[1], and children from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit even more from a grammar school education than other pupils at those schools.[2] That is why we want more children to have the opportunity to go to a grammar school. We recognise, however, that we need to do more to promote greater social mobility. That is why we are consulting on proposals to ensure selective schools admit more pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, and play a greater role in helping to raise standards across other schools.

We also recognise the role of early years education in promoting social mobility. We are considering the future direction for children’s centres and will provide further detail in due course, including how stakeholders and members of the public can contribute.

[1] 'The file of Ofsted Management Information on Schools, as at 30 November 2016

[2] Please see page 23 of the attached report by the Centre for Market and Public Organisation (CMPO), 'The Result of 11 Plus Selection: An Investigation into Opportunities and Outcomes for Pupils in Selective LEAs' which says, “For FSM pupils the gains to attending a grammar school are more substantive (around 7 to 8 grade points) without extra penalties for those not making it. Hence the overall picture is that the minority of high ability pupils who are eligible for FSM achieve high attainment in grammars.”