A TENDRING UKIP councillor has urged Essex County Council to open a Grammar School in the district.

Anne Davis told county councillors last week that research showed bright children aged 11 do better at a grammar school than at a non-selective school.

The Hamford ward councillor said existing grammar school places in Colchester were over-subscribed with 600 girls sitting their 11-plus exam for just 160 places.

Such demand, she claimed, showed there was the demand to justify building grammar schools Tendring and other parts of Essex.

The Tendring peninsular had many “bright working class pupils” but few attend grammars due to the cost and time involved in travelling to Colchester.

Children from Frinton, Clacton and Harwich face bus fees of £435 a term travelling to Colchester, which means it is “probable that some children have lost out on a grammar place for want of a bus fare.”

The time it takes to get there also means grammar school pupils boarding their bus at 7.10am, returning home around 5pm. It meant some pupils won’t sit the 11-plus for fear of becoming isolated from their friends.

Thus, the county should consider building a new grammar school in Tendring “in line with Theresa May’s intention for the future of education.”

“Grammar schools were never intended to subsidise the education of the rich (who can afford private schools). They were intended, not for the wealthy or even the brilliant, but for the bright and motivated who would benefit from, but could not afford to pay for an excellent academic education,” Mrs Davis also said.

Thus, the county should consider building a new grammar school in Tendring “in line with Theresa May’s intention for the future of education.”

Coun Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said he welcomed the government ‘green paper,’ which raised the prospect of new grammar schools, but the county already had nine-out-of-ten schools rated good or outstanding.

“As a council, we are committed to ensuring all pupils receive the best possible education and the green paper sets out ways in which all schools can share their expertise to the benefit of children and young people.

“We will continue to monitor, and where possible contribute to, any proposals the government make,” he said.

Harwich Labour councillor Ivan Henderson said grammar schools would see limited funds diverted “for a few at the expense of our other schools” and cause “segregation of our young people.”

The former Labour MP recalled a time when mainstream schools in Clacton had leaking roofs, windows and temporary classrooms.

"They were crying out for investment while selective schools were getting all the investment. UKIP are showing their true colours - Blue - by chasing Tory policies,” he added.