CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron has ditched his party’s support for the 11-plus, saying a future Tory government would not bring back selection.

Opponents of Kent’s selective system gave a guarded welcome to his decision to renounce his backing for what has been an cornerstone of Conservative education policy for years.

But grammar school supporters said they were disappointed by the news, which came in the week that thousands of school children in both Kent and Medway completed 11-plus tests.

Mr Cameron spelled out his policy U-turn as he unveiled plans to introduce subject setting under a future Conservative government.

He did so to try to end continuing Labour accusations that he favoured a return to the 11-plus.

Accusing the Prime Minister of waging a "silly class war" to divert attention from opposition to his own reforms, Mr Cameron said: "We can all see what the Prime Minister is up to.

"In trouble over his education reforms, he is trying to play politics with education by harking back to class war. So I had better make it totally clear. Under my leadership there’ll be no going back to the 11-plus, no going back to grammar schools."

He added: "I want no child held back, so my priority is not selection by ability between schools, but setting by ability within schools, because every parent knows that a high quality education means engaging children at the right level."

Becky Matthews, of the Kent-based anti-selection campaign group STEP - Stop The Eleven Plus - said: "STEP is pleased that Mr Cameron has turned his back on the division of children when they are only eleven.

"We welcome his support for an evidence-based strategy as the research evidence clearly shows that selection does not work. It does not deliver social mobility or good educational outcomes.

"Hopefully, it will not be long before KCC stops wasting money on the 11-plus and concentrates on providing a good local school for every single child."