In an effort to establish a "great meritocracy," Theresa May stated that private schools must do more to assist the state sector in order to retain their tax breaks. May has concentrated on restructuring the educational system, with a plan to create new grammar schools. Parents will be able to establish selective free schools whilst current grammars will be allowed to expand and existing state schools may convert with due cause. Additionally, May plans to increase the level of contributions independent school must make to state sector in order to maintain their charitable status. Larger private schools will need to help establish or fund new state schools and smaller institutions will be required to provide teaching support or appoint leaders to state school boards. May has proposed a number of measures to ensure that new and expanded grammars make places available to children from a diverse range of backgrounds. The government aims to take steps ensuring the success of those who pass the 11-plus exams as well as those who don’t. Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief inspector of schools, has warned that the new system could be a failure. May argued that she is not returning to the "binary" model of grammars and secondary moderns of the past and that every child should have access to a good school place. The prime minister has declined to comment on the number of grammars she hopes to see and has defended her plans by highlighting potential measures to ensure that children from less privileged backgrounds are not restricted to sink schools whilst selection is expanded.
If universities seek to increase tuition fees, they will be required to share their knowledge and resources with younger learners – this might involve creating a new school or taking over one that is in decline.
The Labour party has firmly rejected Theresa May’s suggested plan, which aimed to establish a meritocracy through the establishment of grammar schools. Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow cabinet minister without portfolio, dismissed the plan as "utterly ludicrous". He voiced concerns that despite such claims, the Conservative party was serving the interests of only a select few, leaving everyone else behind.
