The DfE is considering plans from The Weald of Kent girls’ grammar school, which wants to open an annexe in Sevenoaks. The plans have the backing of Kent County Council.
Bids made in 2013 were turned down because the DfE said they did not comply with the law, but the current plans put forward are believed to have met the criteria.
“I strongly support the right of all good schools to expand. I think that’s very important,” Cameron said.
If approved, the annexe could pave the way for more grammars to open satellite campuses, but the prime minister would not say when the government was likely to make its decision. Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, has previously called the plans for grammar school expansion “yet another unnecessary distraction”.
The campaign aims to tackle the worrying decline in reading for pleasure, with reading rates among young people dropping to its lowest level since 2005,
Almost half (46 per cent) of teachers across Europe do not think schools are equipping students with the skills needed for an AI future — a concern shared by two in five teachers in the UK (41 per cent).
An additional £20 million of funding has been allocated to support essential capital repairs and maintenance across schools and colleges in Wales this year.
Now in its 17th year, the Education Business Awards continue to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work, dedication, and achievements of schools and academies across the UK.