HL Deb 15 June 2000 vol 613 c214WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their definition of (a) a grammar school, and (b) "a pretty standard grammar school" in the phrase attributed to the Lord Privy Seal. [HL2707]

The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 defines a grammar school as one whose "admission arrangements make provision for all (or substantially all) of its pupils to be selected by reference to general ability, with a view to admitting only pupils with high ability". Between the late 1940s and late 1970s schools such as that attended by the Lord Privy Seal were known as direct grant grammar schools.