More than a fifth of England’s grammar schools are preparing bids to expand that amount to a potential increase of 5,445 additional selective places over five years, according to a new analysis.

The anti-selection campaign Comprehensive Future has analysed figures after tracking proposals out for consultation and tallying up the schools preparing bids for the government’s £50 million Selective School Expansion Fund, announced in May for 2018/2019 by education secretary Damian Hinds.

Thirty-five of the country’s 163 grammar schools are drawing up bids for expansion, totalling 1089 additional selective places, according to Comprehensive Future. 

Over a five year period, as Year 7 pupils go up through the school, this will amount to 5445 additional students in selective education if all the bids are waved through.

Comprehensive Future has used an estimate yearly pupil admission number average of 140 per year to claim that this increase is equivalent to seven new grammar schools.

The majority (31) are planning to increase the intake of year 7 pupils. A further four are seeking to expand their sixth forms.

Prime minister Theresa May’s hopes to increase the number of grammar schools were thwarted when she failed to achieve a majority at the last election.

Instead, expansion funding has been made available for existing grammar schools that are “good” or “outstanding”, and can prove both that there is a shortfall of secondary places in their area and parental demand for more selective places.

Applicants also have to show “ambitious and demonstrable” proposals to increase grammar school access for pupils eligible for the pupil premium and put out their plans for a minimum four-week consultation.

The £50m put aside was expected to fund up to 4,000 places from 2020, and is widely assumed to be to be the first tranche of the £200 million promised in the 2016 autumn budget.