Why Theresa May wants to bring grammar schools back and why Labour do not

One of her most controversial causes, which seems to be stirring up the House of Commons is her stance on grammar schools.

And this weekend, the Labour Party will be launching its nationwide campaign against grammar schools.

But what exactly is a grammar school? And why is there such a fuss?

Amy Cole investigates...

A grammar school is one of three schooling institutions for children aged 11-18.

If not being home-schooled, children in primary education will either go on to a state school, a public (sometimes known as private) or a grammar school. While both state and grammar schools are state-funded, public and grammar schools are selective about the students that attend, and public schools require a fee, unless there is a scholarship in place.

Grammar schools are widely known for subjecting primary school children to exams known as the 11-plus. The test quizzes participating children on topics like their numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, English comprehension, punctuation and grammar, non-verbal reasoning and creative writing.

Some schools rank children based on their test successful, selecting the top of the class.

Others rank pupils who pass the test based on the admission criteria, such as distance form the school and if they have siblings there.

Grammar schools were used in the past to different the children into "academically excellent" and those best off learning a trade.

There are only 163 grammar schools left in England since the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998 prohibited the opening of any new ones.

Now, Theresa May hopes to end the ban and bring in a "21 century education system" with an "element of selection".

The arguments for ending the ban on new schools, backed by PM May, are that the selective aspect of the schools will increase social cohesion as it would allow children from poorer families get top-quality education without having to pay public school fees.

But the argument on the other side of this is the question of why should there be any different between a state school and a grammar school, shouldn't the focus be on making all schools "good" schools.

During Prime Minister's Questions earlier this month, the PM said: "Let us consider the impact of grammar schools.

"If we look at the attainment of disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children, we see that the attainment gap in grammar schools is virtually zero, which it is not in other schools.

"It is an opportunity for young people to go where their talents will take them. The right hon. Gentleman believes in equality of outcome; I believe in equality of opportunity. He (Jeremy Corbyn) believes in levelling down; we believe in levelling up.

"What we need is a good school for every child, and that is precisely what we will be delivering with the policy that we have announced.

"With that policy, we will see: universities expanding their support for schools; more faith schools being set up; and independent schools increasing their support for schools in the state sector. A diversity of provision of education is what we need to ensure good school places for every child. That good school place is important so that young people can take opportunities and get into the workplace."

But Labour are not fans of the plans.

During a speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool earlier this week, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner denounced the grammar school plan as "segregation, segregation, segregation", prompting cheering party members to rise to their feet.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner

She added: "Selection is toxic. It tells a clever child they are stupid, strips a child of self-esteem and embeds inequality. Every child has potential. Every child can succeed. No child should be left out or left behind."

Labour will launch its nationwide campaign against more grammar schools on Saturday.

Under the slogan "education, not segregation", Labour says it will be contacting one million residents of marginal seats in towns and cities to highlight the party's opposition to expanding grammar schools.

There are currently no grammar schools in Somerset, the closest being Colyton Grammar School in Colyford, East Devon.

The school was top of the 2015 league table for A-Level results and second for GCSEs.

And Somerset County Council says that it is confident the majority of young people in Somerset are already receiving a good education.

A Somerset County Council spokesperson said: “The DfE has recently published a green paper on grammar schools, which, as with all Government papers, we will consider and respond to in due course.

"In Somerset 95.2 per cent pupils are attending a good or better school, with exam results continuing to buck the national trend, so we are confident the vast majority of children and young people in Somerset schools are receiving a good education.

"As an authority our focus is ensuring that children of all abilities are able to achieve their potential, whatever their circumstances or the challenges they face.”