Hundreds more children took the 11-plus this year - with more than 5,000 youngsters from outside the county trying to get into Kent's grammar schools.

About 17,000 pupils sat the test, compared to 16,000 in 2021.

In total, 5,500 of the children were from areas outside the county. There are 5,566 places available at grammars in Kent.

Cllr Rory Love, Kent County Council's education cabinet member, briefed councillors about the figures at a meeting on Tuesday.

It is not clear precisely what the increase is attributed to - but the cost-of-living crisis may be leaving families running into debt and unable to afford private school fees.

Cllr Love said that “in most cases” priority would be given to Kent residents.

The Conservative added that the exact figures were not yet known and would have to be fully validated before the authority would publish them.

Meanwhile, a fresh attempt to phase out selective schooling and the 11-plus will be made this week when the issue will be debated in the House of Lords.

Labour peer Christine Blower will call for an end to selective schooling.

The former chairman of the National Union of Teachers will say this can be done with little upheaval.

A Private Members’ Bill asks that all secondary schools in England adopt the "comprehensive principle" and draw up plans to phase out admission tests which seek to measure a pupil’s "ability" or attainment.

While unlikely to be passed into legislation, the debate illustrates that the issue of selection remains a divisive one.

"Children should always be welcome at their local school without the barrier of flawed entrance tests..."

Dr Nuala Burgess, from the anti-grammar campaign group Comprehensive Future, said: “We believe the debate will show the extent of cross-party support for the idea that academic selection is unnecessary and must go.”

The Bill offered “a workable and carefully phased plan to bring admission policies for England’s remaining 163 grammar schools into line with every other state-funded secondary school”.

Baroness Blower said: “It would end all discriminatory tests which allow schools to select whom they will educate.

"Children should always be welcome at their local school without the barrier of flawed entrance tests. A truly comprehensive education system for England is long overdue.”