Labour MP criticises ‘shameful’ number of poor pupils in London grammars

Labour MP Lucy Powell has criticised London’s grammar schools for educating a ‘shamefully low’ number of pupils from poor backgrounds.

Powell, a former Shadow Education Secretary, released figures that show just 2.3 per cent of pupils that attend grammar schools in the capital are eligible for free school meals, compared to 19.2 per cent for children at all state funded secondary schools.

Enfield was found to have the largest gap, followed by Redbridge, Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Sutton and Kingston.

Powell has said that selective education ‘creates barriers for disadvantaged children’ and has called on Prime Minister Theresa May to rethink proposals to allow more grammar schools to open.

Read more

Supplier Focus

YPO

Education is our heritage, for five decades we’ve been providing better value to 30,000 schools. By working with a variety of leading UK suppliers to provide you with a large range of good quality products and services, from art supplies, curriculum products, furniture and EdTech products, to supporting you in setting up compliant contracts for things like electricity, utilities, and cleaning. We can provide you with everything you could possibly need, making it easier for you.