Call to address access to education imbalance

Euro-MP Paul Nuttall

Local MEP Paul Nuttall has called for bright children from disadvantaged backgrounds to be granted a first class education after the successful trial of the Open Access scheme at Liverpool's Belvedere School.

His move follows a letter in which 80 private school heads called on the Government to go some way to open up excellence irrespective of a child's background.

“Too many bright children are being denied a good education by simply coming from low income households with many experiencing large, highly disruptive classes early in their academic career,” said Mr Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader and the party's education spokesman.

“Ever since grammar schools were ripped out of our community in the 1970s, social mobility, especially in working class areas has come to a complete standstill.

"It is no wonder that Oxbridge and Russell Group universities are regularly out of reach for many comprehensive students. Any move that will enable bright and gifted children to enter elite institutions, to fulfil their academic ability and enter top universities should be encouraged,” said Mr Nuttall, who has campaigned for the re-introduction of grammar schools.

“With 80 private schools supporting the proposed Open Access scheme, we have a unique opportunity to address the current imbalance which prevents working class pupils from accessing their university of choice," he added.