The Education Secretary, David Blunkett, has upheld a complaint against a headteacher who broke government rules about campaigns concerning the future of grammar schools.

Conservative MP Graham Brady had complained about anti-grammar school literature circulated to parents by Michael Evans, head of Trinity Church of England High School in Manchester.

Some of the parents who received the literature live in neighbouring Trafford, which is one of the areas where campaigners are trying to trigger a ballot which could end selection.

The Department for Education confirmed on Friday that it had upheld Mr Brady's complaint that the school had used public funds to circulate campaign literature.

But a spokesman said Mr Blunkett was "satisfied that this came about as a result of a simple misunderstanding of the scope of the regulations and a genuine desire to pass information to parents, rather than using public money deliberately for campaigning purposes".

Mr Evans is now required to inform parents of the department's ruling.

But Mr Brady, who is campaigning to save Trafford's grammar schools, said the ruling should have gone further.

Technicality

"I am very disappointed that in spite of this ruling that the law has been broken, Mr Blunkett intends to take no significant action.

"David Blunkett has not required the school to circulate a balancing view from the other side of the campaign.

"I also asked him ... to declare the ballot process void for this academic year.

"Unfortunately, he has claimed that a technicality in the legislation prevents him from taking this action ... that he would only have the power to declare a ballot void once the balloting has begun.

"David Blunkett has therefore avoided the need to take firm action to restore fairness and balance to the ballot campaign in Trafford."

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "While the legislation gives the Secretary of State power to declare a ballot void, it does not extend the same powers to the petitioning period."