Labour MP criticises ‘shameful’ number of poor pupils in London grammars
Labour MP Lucy Powell has criticised London’s grammar schools for educating a ‘shamefully low’ number of pupils from poor backgrounds.
Powell, a former Shadow Education Secretary, released figures that show just 2.3 per cent of pupils that attend grammar schools in the capital are eligible for free school meals, compared to 19.2 per cent for children at all state funded secondary schools.
Enfield was found to have the largest gap, followed by Redbridge, Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Sutton and Kingston.
Powell has said that selective education ‘creates barriers for disadvantaged children’ and has called on Prime Minister Theresa May to rethink proposals to allow more grammar schools to open.
Read moreLatest News
19/12/2025 - 09:54
The Education Committee has expanded its ongoing inquiry into the early years sector to examine how safeguarding can be strengthened in early years settings.
18/12/2025 - 09:25
The UK will be rejoining the Erasmus programme in 2027, following a package of agreements with the EU.
17/12/2025 - 09:31
Ofqual has fined exam board Pearson more than £2 million in total for serious breaches in three separate cases between 2019 and 2023 which collectively affected tens of thousands of students.
16/12/2025 - 09:19
The average funding rates will increase by 4.3% for under 2s, and by almost 5% for 3-and-4-year-olds.
15/12/2025 - 10:30
Local colleges are set to receive £570 million in government funding to expand training facilities in areas such as construction and engineering.
