A plan to allow new grammar schools has reportedly been abandoned by the Prime Minister.

Rishi Sunak has said that the government would not bring forward any proposals to end the current legislation that does not permit new selective schools.

The PM is facing accusations from his own party that he has done a U-turn after pledging during the Conservative leadership campaign that he would lift the current ban - seen as a commitment to pave the way for a new generation of selective schools.

His decision to scrap that pledge will dismay many of his own MPs in Kent alongside party members.

However, opponents of the 11-plus have welcomed the Prime Minister’s apparent about-turn, which follows a call by peers in the House of Lords for the gradual phasing out of selection in the areas - like Kent - which retain grammar schools.

Another cross-party group has launched a separate campaign calling for an end to selection - called "Times Up For The Test.

During her brief spell as PM, Liz Truss asked then education secretary Kit Malthouse to explore options for new grammars but it had not come to any view on the way forward.

In a statement,the Department for Education said: “Grammar schools overwhelmingly provide an excellent education to their pupils. That said, our focus is on making sure every child has access to a high-quality education, whatever their ability, or type of school they go to.”

Kent has been at the forefront of promoting additional places at existing grammars, notably through opening the first grammar school annexe in Sevenoaks, run by The Weald of Kent Girls Grammar School.