Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, was forced to deny suggestions that pupils would be set by ability in subjects after a former special advisor to her predecessor Michael Gove claimed the move was to be announced in the Tory’s election manifesto.
Prime minister David Cameron is known to be a supporter of setting and believes that such a policy would be popular with parents.
However, the suggestion, which first appeared in the media on Wednesday, September 3, in an article by the Guardian, sparked a huge backlash from teachers’ leaders, opposition parties, and teaching professionals.
On Twitter, the former special advisor, Dominic Cummings, said he had been informed that the prime minister planned to back the controversial policy because it would help bright children excel.
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