The Birmingham Conservative Group have welcomed the announcement that the Government are reviewing whether to allow more grammar schools to open.
Cllr Robert Alden (Erdington Ward) said "grammar schools have shown time and time again to be excellent tools for social mobility, offering children the chance to the best education, giving them the chance to do better than their parents. It is therefore to be welcomed that the Government is looking again at allowing local Councils to open more grammar schools. Here in Birmingham they are consistently some of the most popular and successful schools. We would therefore welcome the expansion of grammar schools in the City while also ensuring a wide range of choice, such as academies and faith schools remain available to children and parents.
Robert went onto say "We are very clear if we are running Birmingham City Council after the all out elections in 2018 we will be creating additional grammar school places as currently allowed. If the Government has changed the law then we will be delighted to be one of the first Councils in the Country to open up additional grammar schools as well. Sadly a recent Council motion on this subject was talked out by the Labour and Lib Dem parties as they do not seem to support grammar schools. There will be a clear choice in Birmingham in 2018 if you want more grammar schools only a Conservative led Council will be able to deliver them. Some of the brightest children, from deprived communities, in our City are let down in this City because they do not have the opportunities to succeed. A Conservative Council will deliver a City of aspiration and opportunities for all children to get the chance to reach their full potential".
Robert added "In a world when the case for devolution is so clear, the decision on whether new grammar schools can be created should not be left to the decision of a Labour Government to unilaterally ban them last century, but rather opened up to allow local Council's and voters to decide if they want more grammar schools in their area".