Theresa May unveils plans for new generation of grammar schools
Theresa May has outlined plans for new grammar schools in England under an "ambitious package" of education reforms.
In her first speech since becoming prime minister, Mrs May said the "arbitrary rule" which prevents new selective schools from being opened has "sacrificed children's potential because of dogma and ideology".
"The truth is that we already have selection in our school system - and it's selection by house price, selection by wealth. That is simply unfair."
But Mrs May's plans drew criticism from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who said it is not a "very sensible way forward for our country".
Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw also warned it may put years of progress in the education system "at risk".
The key four proposals:
New grammar schools
Under Mrs May's plans, new selective schools will have to meet targets on how many pupils they have from poor families.
They may also be required to set up a "feeder" primary school in disadvantaged areas.
Existing non-selective schools will also be able to introduce selection "in some circumstances".
"It is not a proposal to go back to the 1950s, but to look to the future, and that future I believe is an exciting one.
"It is a future in which every child should have access to a good school place. And a future in which Britain's education system shifts decisively to support ordinary working class families."
How many grammar schools will be opened?
Theresa May said she was not setting a "quota for the number of schools that are suddenly going to become grammar schools".
"This is about opening the system up to a greater diversity," she added.
How will children be selected for these schools?
New-style smart tests will be able to assess the "true potential" of each pupil
Schools will encouraged to recruit students at 14 and 16 as well as 11 to avoid the danger of children being written off as non-academic at the start of their secondary careers.
What are grammar schools and what are the pros and cons?
Faith school admission rules to be relaxed
Under the education proposals, faith schools - which follow a general curriculum but can choose what they teach in religious studies - will be allowed to select more pupils based on religion.
Current rules, put a 50% cap on the proportion of pupils selected by faith, and have been blamed for preventing new Catholic schools from opening.
Mrs May said this rule will be removed to allow the "growth in capacity" that Catholic schools can offer.
Instead there will be a consultation on "much more effective requirements to ensure that faith schools are properly inclusive and make sure their pupils mix with children of other faiths and backgrounds".
New requirements for universities that want to charge higher fees
Universities that want to charge higher fees will be required to set up a new school or sponsor an existing under-performing school.
Mrs May also said that over time the government will extend this requirement to the sponsorship or establishment of more than one school.
A number of universities already have partnership arrangements with academies or free schools, for example, the University of Brighton currently works with five schools.
"These are kinds of innovation I want to encourage, this kind of active engagement in building the capacity of our schools system," Mrs May said.
Independent schools face tougher charitable status tests
Mrs May said she wants all independent schools with the "appropriate capacity and capability" to create more places for children from poorer backgrounds.
"This Government is about a Britain that works for everyone not just a privileged few," she said.
The prime minister said these schools will face a tougher test on the amount of public benefit required in order to maintain their charitable status.
"It's important to state that this will be proportion to the size and scale of the school in question, not every school is an Eaton or a Harrow," Mrs May stressed.