CONSERVATIVE leader Michael Howard has promised that Kent’s grammar schools would be allowed to “survive and thrive” under a future Tory government.

Mr Howard has told grammar school headteachers their schools would not be forced to live under the shadow of legislation allowing parents the right to vote to abolish them.

But in a speech to the National Association of Grammar Schools, the Folkestone and Hythe MP stopped short of an outright commitment to allow the number of grammars – currently 164 across the country – to be extended.

The Conservative leader, who was educated at a grammar school, said Labour wanted to abolish grammar schools “by stealth” and said the law on parental votes had squandered nearly £2m of public money.

He said: “They put in place legislation that would allow parents to hold ballots on the future of grammar schools in their area. A few campaigns have started. Not one has succeeded. But they have cost a great deal of money – almost £2m – that could have been spent on our children’s education rather than an ideological frolic.

“The heads of grammar schools…face this constant struggle for survival under Labour. Under the Conservatives, grammar schools will survive and thrive.”

Accusing Labour of being ideologically blinkered, he said standards at grammars proved their worth.

“According to the performance tables published at the end of last year, 44 out of 49 of the best performing schools which ‘added value’ to their pupils' attainment levels at Key Stage Three were grammar schools. By every measure, grammar schools out perform all other schools - maintained, specialist, independent or faith,” he said.