BRITAIN’S first new grammar school in 50 years has been given the green light.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan will sign off on the new 450-pupil centre despite fears it may stigmatise pupils who fail entrance exams and damage nearby comprehensives.
She will insist it does not mean a 1998 Labour law banning new publicly funded selective schools will be scrapped.
That law merely allows existing ones to expand.
The new school will be an annex of Weald of Kent Grammar in Tonbridge. New pupils will spend time at the old site once a week.
It follows pressure from Tories who say comprehensives stop clever but poor kids excelling.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, the local MP, was among the new institution’s supporters, The Times reported.
Mrs Morgan had feared a legal challenge had she denied permission for the new school to open, Whitehall sources said.
Kent County Council chief Paul Carter said: “The school took great effort to submit their bid. They did a great job.
“But this decision won’t open the floodgates.”