Theresa May has suggested she only reached No 10 because she was lucky enough to attend a grammar school, as the ongoing row sparked Labour anger in the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions.
The Prime Minister defended her controversial policy by claiming a selective education also lay behind Jeremy Corbyn’s rise to Opposition leader.
But Mr Corbyn – with a united party behind him, for almost the first time – enjoyed his best Commons clash with Mrs May, as he savaged the plans for “dividing children at the age of 11”.
When challenged, she was unable to name an education expert who backs more grammar schools and her own – divided – backbenchers were subdued.
Mr Corbyn said: “Every child - every child - should have the best possible education they can have
“We don’t need, and never should, divide children at the age of 11 – a life-changing decision when the majority end up losing out.”
Pointing out the poorer GCSE results in all-selective Kent, he asked: “Why does the Prime Minister want to expand a system that can only let children down?”
Mr Corbyn also quoted David Cameron’s opposition to grammar schools and his belief they could only ever offer “a decent education to a select few”.
The comments came after the Prime Minister personalised the row, accusing Mr Corbyn of trying to “pull up the ladder“ after taking advantage of a good education himself.
Ms May said: “He went to a grammar school, I went to a grammar school - it's what got us where we are today.”
She added: “It is members of the Labour Party who will take the advantages of a good education for themselves and pull up the ladder behind them for other people.”
Mr Corbyn hit back, saying: “It's not about pulling up ladders, it's about providing a ladder for every child.”
Ms May’s claim may anger some Tory backbenchers who, this week, voiced opposition by pointing to their own comprehensive education – and to the cost of failing the 11-plus exam.
It was also quickly pointed out that Holton Park Girls' Grammar School, in Oxfordshire – which Mrs May joined at the age of 13 – became Wheatley Park Comprehensive School while she was there.
Mr Corbyn went to a selective boys' grammar school in Shropshire, but split from his second wife because she was determined to send their son to a selective school.
Ms May accused the Labour leader of being stuck “in the 1950s” – reflecting her claim that her new generation of grammars will be more inclusive, admitting more poor pupils.
And she criticised his belief in “equality of outcome”, adding: “He believes in levelling down - we believe in levelling up.”
Ms May is faced with possible defeat on her first flagship policy, after more than a dozen Tory backbenchers criticised grammars, some warning of the “stigma” for pupils denied places.
Later, her spokesman was unable to provide evidence to back up the return of grammars – despite Ms May’s insistence that she only makes big decisions after careful weighing up of the facts.
