Parents decide on grammar schools

The signatures of one in five local parents will be needed to trigger a ballot over the future of grammar schools, under government proposals.

A consultation letter to the country's 161 grammar schools and local education authorities running them says 20 per cent of "eligible" parents would be required before any wider vote could be held on changes to admissions policy.

"Eligible" parents would include all those at the feeder primary schools serving a grammar school, or, where selection was widespread in a local authority such as Kent or Trafford, every parent in the area. Government sources yesterday made clear that LEAs would have no role in triggering the ballots. Lucy Ward