At some state grammar schools one third or more offers of places are going to pupils from fee-paying prep schools.

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Unless preps are near state grammar schools and hence have a secure niche drilling children for the 11-plus exams, they may seek to merge with secondary schools, which can then market an all-through education insulated from the vicissitudes of competitive entry at 11 or 13 years of age.

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The state of Oregon has held perhaps the strangest vote, on the use of improved grammar and spelling in the state's constitution.

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Christopher Ray, of Manchester Grammar School, said favouring state pupils would not necessarily broaden universities' social mix.

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Earlier this month two grammar schools in Dorset announced that from 2010 they would admit state-school applicants in preference to private-school ones, even if the latter had better 11-plus results.

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Overall some 44% of those on the list went to independent school, 27% to grammar school, 8% to a former direct grant school and 21% to comprehensives and other state schools.

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