MP Graham Brady has praised Trafford’s exam results in the House of Commons.

An early day motion submitted by the Altrincham and Sale West MP points out that 74 per cent of pupils in Trafford achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, more than any other local authority in England.

Trafford operates a grammar school system, and according to Mr Brady this has been beneficial for all schools.

He said: "I wanted to make sure that everyone in Westminster and around the country was aware of the impressive results here in Trafford, results that show that the selective system of grammar schools works well for children of all abilities. Trafford out-performs areas with comprehensive schools – not just those with a similar economic profile but areas that are far wealthier."

Tarun Kapur, executive headteacher at Trafford comprehensives Broadoak and Ashton on Mersey, plus Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury, also feels that the grammar school system works.

He said: "The system means that the grammar schools get a 100 per cent pass rate because they are the top end. What the high schools then do is try to better other comprehensives by raising aspirations and setting targets high." Andy Griffin, headteacher at Broadoak School, agrees with his colleague Mr Kapur that the selective system is beneficial as far as results are concerned. But says he thinks there are downsides to the grammar school system.

He said: "I don’t think that you can write a child off at the age of 11. That is not necessarily what is happening, but it can be how it feels for the kids. They feel as though they have failed if they don’t get into a grammar school, which can be quite upsetting for them and their parents." Since 2004 Trafford has dropped 42 places in the UK’s league of most deprived places, but both Mr Brady and Mr Kapur say that they don’t think this has had a significant effect on the borough’s results.

Mr Kapur said: "I have not seen a noticeable difference. Broadoak is the third most deprived ward in the country, and we have a real mix of young people coming into the school, but the teachers are driving a higher quality of

education."

According to Mr Brady Trafford is one of the worst-funded local education authorities in the country, but it is also one of the best-performing.

He said: "Not long ago I asked for a value for money comparison from the House of Commons Library for education across all the boroughs in the country, comparing budget allocated with results achieved, and Trafford came out top.

"I then asked them to run it again, but with other variables such as levels of deprivation factored in, Trafford came out second, so any way you look at it Trafford is extremely good value for money in terms of the overall level of funding."

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