£50m fund to expand existing grammar schools

Education Secretary Damian Hinds has announced a £50 million fund to expand the number of places at existing good or outstanding selective schools, alongside measures to make them more accessible to disadvantaged pupils.

This fund is part of several measures to increase good school places, following the Schools that Work for Everyone consultation, which set out the government’s ambition to ensure there is a good school place for every child, whatever their background.

Measures include a new wave of free school applications, support to expand good faith schools, and a fresh agreement with the independent schools sector to help improve outcomes for pupils of all backgrounds.

The £50million Selective Schools Expansion Fund is available for 2018-19 so that existing selective schools can expand their premises to create more places.

To make these schools more inclusive, Schools will have to submit a Fair Access and Partnership Plan setting out what action they will take to increase admissions of disadvantaged pupils.

A Memorandum of Understanding with the Grammar School Heads’ Association has also been unveiled, outlining its commitment to widen access and work with local schools to raise standards for all children.