Debbie Atkins: "Unfair system"

It was said they had funded a public relations company to run their publicity campaign and to produce a professionally-made video which was posted to 3000 parents.

But Mr Blunkett says in a letter to the campaigners that he is satisfied there was no direct cost to either school in the production of the video.

And he says comments made by the head teachers and governors were "primarily factual statements".

'Not surprised'

Debbie Atkins, spokeswoman for the anti-selection campaigners, said she was not surprised because Mr Blunkett had made it plain at the start of the appeal process that he saw no grounds for it.

"I think the message to other campaigners is that the regulations are not worth the paper they are written on," she said.

"It seems to me that the pro-selection group have been able to do as they liked really."

But she does not see this as an end to the matter.

"This campaign in Ripon has been running for 20 years so there's no reason it should stop now. It's an unjust and unfair system."

A Conservative PArty spokesman said the outcome was good news.

"But this country's grammar schools are still under attack from Labour.

"The legislation remains in place, and some of our successful schools are facing an uncertain future, for no reason other than political dogma. Labour's class war continues unabated."