£15m handed to grammar schools to widen access despite concerns it does not boost diversity

Campaigners are calling for government fund to be abandoned amid claims it has failed, writes Eleanor Busby

The government has given the green light to a second wave of grammar schools receiving funding (PA)

Nearly £15m of government funding has been handed out to a group of grammar schools to boost the number of disadvantaged pupils they admit, despite concerns the initiative does not help diversity.

Six grammar schools in England have been awarded a share of £14.3m of cash to create more than 1,100 additional places for pupils, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced.

The Independent revealed only 22 more pupils from poorer backgrounds sat the 11-plus exam last year in the selective schools awarded a share of the government’s expansion fund.