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Cameron attacks grammar 'fantasy' | Cameron attacks grammar 'fantasy' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
David Cameron says it is "delusional" to talk about bringing in more grammar schools, as Conservative rebels are doing in calling for a policy U-turn. | David Cameron says it is "delusional" to talk about bringing in more grammar schools, as Conservative rebels are doing in calling for a policy U-turn. |
He told a Westminster press conference there was a "fantasy element" to the debate, saying they had not built new grammars during 18 years in power. | He told a Westminster press conference there was a "fantasy element" to the debate, saying they had not built new grammars during 18 years in power. |
The old Tory policy had been "a chain around our necks", Mr Cameron added. | The old Tory policy had been "a chain around our necks", Mr Cameron added. |
His comments came amid unhappiness from some Tory MPs and supporters over the end of support for academic selection. | His comments came amid unhappiness from some Tory MPs and supporters over the end of support for academic selection. |
'Absurd' | 'Absurd' |
Mr Cameron has said his party is against the creation of new grammar schools but will not push to close existing ones. | Mr Cameron has said his party is against the creation of new grammar schools but will not push to close existing ones. |
At a meeting of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs last week, Mr Cameron's policy was denounced as "ridiculous" and "absurd". | At a meeting of the influential 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs last week, Mr Cameron's policy was denounced as "ridiculous" and "absurd". |
But the Conservative leader told a press conference on Monday: "There's a fantasy element to the debate. | But the Conservative leader told a press conference on Monday: "There's a fantasy element to the debate. |
"It's delusional to talk about these things in the future when we didn't do them in the past." | "It's delusional to talk about these things in the future when we didn't do them in the past." |
He added: "We need to clear this out of the way. It's been a chain around our necks." | He added: "We need to clear this out of the way. It's been a chain around our necks." |
Last week he told the Evening Standard the party would "never be taken seriously by parents" while it backed selection. | Last week he told the Evening Standard the party would "never be taken seriously by parents" while it backed selection. |
There are 164 grammar schools in England - choosing pupils by academic ability at the age of 11 - with 10 local education authorities considered to be fully selective. | There are 164 grammar schools in England - choosing pupils by academic ability at the age of 11 - with 10 local education authorities considered to be fully selective. |
Social mobility | Social mobility |
A YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph suggested that 70% of Tory voters support selective education. | A YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph suggested that 70% of Tory voters support selective education. |
But shadow education secretary David Willetts said his party backed the expansion of Labour's city academy system instead. | |
Academies are non-fee paying, non-selective state schools, which operate outside the control of local education authorities and have private sponsors. | Academies are non-fee paying, non-selective state schools, which operate outside the control of local education authorities and have private sponsors. |
Mr Willetts said last week that academic selection does not help social mobility. | Mr Willetts said last week that academic selection does not help social mobility. |
He argued that middle class parents could coach a less gifted child to do better in an exam at aged 11 than a bright child from a less well-off background. | He argued that middle class parents could coach a less gifted child to do better in an exam at aged 11 than a bright child from a less well-off background. |
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