THE battle is about to begin over the future of grammar schools.

MPs have now approved the regulations which will allow parents to demand a ballot on the abolition of selective schools.

The procedure fulfils Labour's election pledge to allow parents to decide the future of the country's 164 selective schools.

Under the new rules, just 10 parents will be needed to trigger the procedures.

They will be able to launch a petition demanding a ballot in their education area on the issue.

In Kent and Bexley, where selective schools make up more than a quarter of school places, supporters of abolition will need to get the signatures of 20 per cent of parents in the county or London borough.

The Electoral Reform Ballot Services, chosen by the Government will then decide exactly how many signatures the petition will need to trigger the ballot.

If a ballot is held, the question would list the selective schools concerned, and ask parents if they wanted all the schools listed "to introduce admission arrangements which admit children of all abilities."

Two organisations -- CASE (Campaign to Advance State Education) and STEP (Stop the Eleven Plus) -- are already actively organising in Kent to raise a petition.

But the grammar schools are also getting organised and have formed Support Kent Schools, a campaign which also covers Bexley, where there is currently no move to launch a petition.

Although parents have until next July to organise petitions for a ballot in the next academic year, it is thought the first moves will be made in areas where there are the fewest selective schools.

It is not thought any moves will be made in Kent or Bexley for at least another year.

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