NEARLY five times as many pupils qualify for free school meals at Kent’s non-selective high schools compared with grammar schools, according to data released by the county council.

Conservative’s education spokesman David Willetts sparked a row earlier this year when he claimed the number of pupils eligible for free school meals highlighted how the prospects of children from poorer backgrounds getting a grammar school place were “shockingly low".

The party’s decision to end its traditional support for grammar schools triggered a revolt among backbench MPs, with several in Kent condemning the policy U-turn.

While the figures appear to support Mr Willetts’ claim, County Hall Tories said they were only part of the picture and did not show how grammars were working alongside other schools to help lift standards.

The statistics show that in Kent, as many as one in five pupils are eligible for free school meals at some non-selective high schools.

In contrast, less than one per cent of pupils have free school meals at one in five of the county’s 33 grammars.

A Kent Messenger Group analysis also suggests some of the county’s best-performing non-selective schools have a far lower take-up of free school meals than poorer performing schools.

Across Kent, on average two per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals at the county’s 33 grammars. For non-selective high schools, the equivalent figure is 11.7 per cent and for the 17 schools with what are called wide-ability intakes, the figure is 7.3 per cent.

Cllr John Simmonds, KCC’s cabinet member for education, insisted grammars did help less well-off families.

He said: “I am not sure David Willetts is right. Parents who are eligible for family tax credits are not eligible for free school meals but the data does not show that.

“Grammars represent a third of our secondary schools and they are a crucial part of our school network.“

Martin Frey, of the anti-selection group STEP – Stop The Eleven Plus – said: “There is nothing surprising about these figures.

“We have always doubted the claim by grammar schools that they broadly represent the community and now we have it.”