Martin Vickers MP outlined local support for Grammar Schools during questions to the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening MP. He went on to highlight poor educational standards in coastal communities – an issue which Martin has raised a number of times in the House – and urged the Government to look at extending bilateral schools.
Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)
I welcome the Government’s decision at least to open this debate. A statutory ban on the establishment of grammar schools should be no part of a Conservative Government’s policy. Evidence from my area, where grammar schools are available just down the road in the neighbouring council area, indicates that there is widespread support for the establishment of a grammar school. Coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to poor educational standards, so I hope that the Secretary of State will give due consideration to that if the policy goes forward. May I also urge her to consider the extension of bilateral schools?
Justine Greening
I am sure that my hon. Friend will be interested to see our policies when they are published shortly. He talks about some of the elements of our secondary system. I know that he wants to make sure that his local community has access to better schools for more local children, and that is precisely what we are aiming to achieve overall.
You can read the full debate here.