Martin contributed to a debate on the Government’s consultation, ‘Schools that work for everyone’. In his question to the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening MP, he again mentioned support for grammar schools in his constituency. Martin also spoke about feeder schools and the issue of making sure that young children reach the standards necessary to qualify for grammar schools.
Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. In the week or so since this debate began, it has received a very favourable response from my constituents. If we are to maximise the opportunities for our young people, we need not just more grammar schools but more young people reaching the standard at the age of 11 to qualify for them. Can she give an absolute assurance that adequate resources will be provided at all schools? She spoke of opening excellent feeder schools, but we want to make the existing schools excellent feeder schools.
Justine Greening
One of the suggestions is that expanding grammars could sponsor a primary feeder, particularly in an area of lower-income families, if that was a possibility. As my hon. Friend says, we have to look at all the work we have done in primary schools in terms of phonics and improving maths, driving up attainment to make sure that children are not only ready but at the right level to be able to move into a secondary system and then finish their education from there.
You can read the full debate here.