SKIPTON'S MP David Curry has defended grammar schools after his party withdraw their support for a selective education system.

Tory leader David Cameron has backed education spokesman David Willetts, who commented that grammar schools were failing poor children and did not promote social mobility.

He also suggested pursuing a form of education, devised by the Labour Government, which would see private sponsored academies operating outside the control of local authorities.

Mr Curry said Mr Willetts had run into a lot of "flak" from Tory MPs for his comments.

He said the debates about grammar schools were not a new phenomenon.

He added: "I think these old arguments are very tired and a generation out of date."

He explained that all schools - regardless of whether they were grammar or not - were moving towards specialist status.

He pointed out that non-selective South Craven School, in Cross Hills, was leading the way in terms of technology, while Skipton Girls' High - a grammar school - was at the forefront of engineering.

Mr Curry said he was not unhappy with the suggestion that new grammar schools would not be created.

But he said he did take umbrage about Mr Willetts' remarks that grammar schools had failed society.

Skipton's Ermysted's and Skipton Girls' High are two of 164 grammar schools left in England.

Mr Curry's Skipton and Ripon constituency contains the only school to have faced a ballot where parents voted on whether to scrap their local grammar school.

This took place in Ripon in 2000, when parents voted 67 per cent to 33 per cent in favour of keeping Ripon Grammar School.

Mr Curry suggested removing the piece of legislation - under the 1998 School Standards and Frameworks Act - which allowed the ballots.

He said: "It's a stupid piece of legislation."

Education spokesman Mr Willetts also said grammar schools only served the middle classes and did not offer any route into achievement for children from poorer homes.

Mr Curry said: "Kids from better off households do better in education right across the world. It's not rocket science, we know it's the case."

He said the challenge was to get the best out of all schools.