Almost one in five grammar schools has bowed to government pressure and agreed to give priority in their admissions to poor children.
Many more are considering similar moves in response to criticism that the remaining selective state schools are “stuffed full of middle-class kids”.
It means that children entitled to free school meals would get places at such schools before other pupils who may have scored more highly in 11-plus tests.
Grammar school heads say the numbers of pupils to benefit would be small, as relatively low numbers of poor children even sit entrance tests. Even smaller numbers pass them,