May kill two birds with one stone on grammar schools

New grammar schools are set to be established as part of Theresa May’s ‘social mobility’ agenda, if sources are to be believed.

If true, it will indicate that Mrs May is serious about a “country which works for everyone” and ensuring that equal opportunity is spread to all peoples, not just at the top — or in her words, “the privileged few”.

Each child should be empowered to reach their full potential — regardless of who they are, where they lived or where they were born. And the establishment of grammar schools, whereby schools can select students based on merit, will not only help create friendly competition, but empower students who would otherwise be unable to attend, to have a chance to attend the school.

Most of these students are from lower socio-economic areas and for the most part, they are unable to attend because their parents are unable to get into “the zone” for the better comprehensive.

No one choose the circumstances they were born into, and it is plain ridiculous to index how far one can succeed to these circumstances.

With these new grammar schools, students who live in poor and difficult circumstances are now not condemned to their local comprehensive, but able to attend a leading school where they can succeed and achieve their full potential. Who knows, among these kids who benefitted from a grammar school could be the leader, inventor or entrepreneur of tomorrow.

And grammar schools work and none so by Theresa May’s own Chief of Staff, Nick Timothy, whose story can be found here. Because of grammar schools, Mr Timothy — from a working class background — could be the first in his family to go to university.

But every decision that Mrs May makes must be taken in the eye of Brexit.

The Tory grassroots, long champions of grammar schools, are celebrating. The Chairman of the powerful backbench 1922 Committee, Graham Brady, resigned from the Shadow Frontbench in 2007 over grammar schools after then Opposition Leader signalled that he wasn’t intent on overturning the ban.

But a word of caution must be issued: while Tory grassroots have every reason to celebrate, with contentious Brexit negotiations coming up and strong feelings felt on all sides, their celebration of today may soon make way towards fury.

Is this a tool to subdue the grassroots anger ahead of the concessions that Mrs May will have to make at the hand of Brussels?

It could very well be.