More than 500 children from dozens of fee-paying independent schools have been offered places at Kent’s grammar schools this year, we can reveal.

The figures suggest the influence of private schools on the intake of some selective schools in the county remains significant.

In two schools, the figures indicate that as many as one in three places this year have been offered to children who have been privately educated.

Education secretary Justine Greening announced today she wants a new generation of grammars to support the struggling rather than the “privileged few.”

She vowed that new grammars will make them more accessible to “ordinary families.”

Figures provided to the KM Group under the Freedom of Information Act show that 512 offers were made to children from private schools this year compared to 474 in 2016.

In two of the county’s super-selective grammars, the offers amounted to 1 in 3 of all available Year Six places.

At The Judd School, 61 offers out of 180 available went to children from private schools. At Tonbridge Grammar, the figures were more or less the same with 60 offers out of 180 places available.

The Skinners School in Tonbridge saw one in five places being offered to privately-educated children - 33 out of 155 available.

The data shows that the impact of independent schools varies across different parts of the county. While the numbers are highest in west Kent, there are signs that grammar schools in north Kent are also affected.

In east Kent, however, the numbers are much lower - particularly in Thanet and Dover with the exception of Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Sandwich.

However, there are signs that grammar schools in Kent are pre-empting questions about what they are doing to encourage poorer brighter children to apply for places.

The KM Group can reveal that from next year:

Weald of Kent Girls Grammar will reserve 16 places for children eligible for pupil premium money;

• Tonbridge Grammar School will offer 10 places for girls eligible for pupil premium money and whose 11-plus scores are below automatic qualifying score;

• The Judd School will offer five places to children on free school meals who pass the 11-plus but do not necessarily get the higher score;

• Skinners' School will continue with a new policy of offering five places for pupils on free school meals, provided they pass the 11-plus provided they are no more than 10 marks below lowest qualifying mark

The developments have been welcomed by the Conservative county councillor who chaired an inquiry into social mobility at Kent’s grammars.

Cllr Jenny Whittle said: “I find these changes in admissions policies very heartening indeed. It shows that they are tackling the thorny issue of super selection. The challenge will be to ensure that the primary schools respond, identifying children from low income backgrounds who are high attainers and need support to prepare and enter the Kent Test.”

In her speech, the education secretary Justine Greening said: "We want to see more children from disadvantaged families getting into grammars - that’s absolutely vital. I welcome that many grammar schools are now changing their admissions code to give a priority of places to these children - I want all of them to follow this example."