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Grammar schools: What are they and why are they controversial? Grammar schools: What are they and why are they controversial?
(about 1 hour later)
The long-awaited decision on the plan by a Kent grammar school to build what it describes as a "satellite" school on another site has pushed the arguments about the rights and wrongs of a selective school system to the fore.The long-awaited decision on the plan by a Kent grammar school to build what it describes as a "satellite" school on another site has pushed the arguments about the rights and wrongs of a selective school system to the fore.
First 'new' grammar school in 50 years
What is a grammar school?What is a grammar school?
Grammar schools are state secondary schools that select their pupils by means of an examination taken by children at age 11, known as the "11 Plus".Grammar schools are state secondary schools that select their pupils by means of an examination taken by children at age 11, known as the "11 Plus".
There are only about 164 grammar schools in England, out of some 3,000 state secondaries, and a further 69 in Northern Ireland. There are only about 164 grammar schools in England, out of some 3,000 state secondaries, and a further 69 grammar schools in Northern Ireland.
Under the grammar school system, pupils who pass the exam can go to the local grammar school, while pupils who do not go to the local "secondary modern school". Under the grammar school system, pupils who pass the exam can go to the local grammar, while pupils those do not go to the local "secondary modern school".
However, most parts of the UK do not have an explicitly selective education system of this sort. More common across the UK is the "comprehensive" system, in which pupils of all abilities and aptitudes are taught together.
More common is the "comprehensive" system, in which pupils of all abilities and aptitudes are taught together.
But there are a smattering of grammar schools in "comprehensive" areas in England, which are in very high demand. And this is where it can get complicated.
There are no state grammars in Wales or Scotland, and although some retain the name "grammar school", they are non-selective and have no special status.There are no state grammars in Wales or Scotland, and although some retain the name "grammar school", they are non-selective and have no special status.
When were they first introduced?When were they first introduced?
Grammar schools have existed since the 16th Century, but the modern grammar school concept dates back to the Education Act 1944. This made secondary education after the age of 14 free.Grammar schools have existed since the 16th Century, but the modern grammar school concept dates back to the Education Act 1944. This made secondary education after the age of 14 free.
The act also reorganised secondary education into two basic types: At the same time secondary education was reorganised into two basic types:
There was a third type of school, the technical school - but very few were established.There was a third type of school, the technical school - but very few were established.
So the system effectively divided pupils into two types, those destined for university and better jobs, and those deemed more suitable for less celebrated professions. So the system effectively divided pupils into two types - those destined for university and better jobs, and those deemed more suitable for less celebrated professions.
Why did the system change?Why did the system change?
During the 1950s and 1960s, it was said, mainly by Labour politicians and egalitarian educationalists, that the system reinforced class division and middle-class privilege. During the 1950s and 1960s, it was said, mainly by Labour politicians and egalitarian educationalists, that the selective education system reinforced class division and middle-class privilege.
In 1965, the government ordered local education authorities to start phasing out grammar schools and secondary moderns, and replace them with a comprehensive system.In 1965, the government ordered local education authorities to start phasing out grammar schools and secondary moderns, and replace them with a comprehensive system.
The process progressed irregularly as the timescale for implementation had been left up to local authorities. The quickest changes were made in Labour-controlled areas, while strongly Conservative counties moved slowly or not at all.
The quickest shifts were made in Labour-controlled areas, while strongly Conservative counties moved slowly or not at all.
Some local authorities were determined to retain grammar schools.
A handful of counties and local authorities in England have kept largely selective schools systems, including Kent, Medway, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire, while others such as Gloucestershire, Trafford and Slough have a mix.A handful of counties and local authorities in England have kept largely selective schools systems, including Kent, Medway, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire, while others such as Gloucestershire, Trafford and Slough have a mix.
In other places, a few grammar schools survived in areas that were otherwise fully comprehensive, such as Birmingham, Bournemouth and some London boroughs.In other places, a few grammar schools survived in areas that were otherwise fully comprehensive, such as Birmingham, Bournemouth and some London boroughs.
In 1998, Labour's School Standards and Framework Act forbade the establishment of any new all-selective schools.In 1998, Labour's School Standards and Framework Act forbade the establishment of any new all-selective schools.
It also made provisions for local ballots on the future of existing grammar schools.It also made provisions for local ballots on the future of existing grammar schools.
Only one such ballot has taken place since then. In 2000, parents in Ripon voted by 67% to 33% in favour of keeping Ripon Grammar as a grammar school. Only one such ballot has taken place since then. In 2000, parents in Ripon, North Yorkshire, voted by 67% to 33% in favour of keeping Ripon Grammar as a grammar school.
How do they select their pupils? How do grammar schools select their pupils?
Grammar schools select their pupils by means of a test, known as the 11 Plus, which is taken by pupils in the last year of primary school.Grammar schools select their pupils by means of a test, known as the 11 Plus, which is taken by pupils in the last year of primary school.
It is designed to see if they are able enough to learn in a grammar school environment with peers of a similar standard.It is designed to see if they are able enough to learn in a grammar school environment with peers of a similar standard.
But many complain the nature of the test, often featuring types of questions not usually adopted in regular state primaries. But many complain about the nature of the test, as it often features types of questions not usually adopted in regular state primaries.
The structure of the test has varied over time and in different places, but it usually consists of three papers: Grammar school entrance exams can consist of all or a subset of the following:
• Numerical reasoning (maths)
• Verbal reasoning
• English comprehension, punctuation and grammar
• Non-verbal reasoning
• Creative writing
They have traditionally used questions based on verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, and it is argued that those who have been intensively tutored tend to do much better in these tests.They have traditionally used questions based on verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, and it is argued that those who have been intensively tutored tend to do much better in these tests.
But recently there have been attempts to make the tests more accessible and closer to the kind of word problems children face in primary schools. Recently there have been attempts to make the tests more accessible and closer to the kind of word problems children face in primary schools.
Some grammar schools admit successful students by ranked order - all candidates are ranked by their 11 Plus score - literally creaming the best pupils off the top.Some grammar schools admit successful students by ranked order - all candidates are ranked by their 11 Plus score - literally creaming the best pupils off the top.
In other areas, pupils who pass the test are then ranked by admission criteria, which can include the distance they live from the school. In other areas, pupils who pass the test are then ranked by admission criteria, which can include the distance they live from the school or whether they already have a sibling there.
There are numerous companies that offer specialist tutoring from a very early age so that children have the best chance of passing and getting a high score. There are numerous companies that offer specialist 11 Plus tutoring to children from an early age.
Why is the Kent decision significant?Why is the Kent decision significant?
Not only will it be the first selective grammar school to open in England for more than 50 years, it is also the first test of the 1998 legislation introduced by Labour that barred any new school from adopting selective admissions.Not only will it be the first selective grammar school to open in England for more than 50 years, it is also the first test of the 1998 legislation introduced by Labour that barred any new school from adopting selective admissions.
Kent has side-stepped this law by expanding an already existing school on to a site of an already existing grammar school nine miles away in Tonbridge. Weald of Kent Grammar School, in Tonbridge, has side-stepped this law by expanding to another site nine miles away in Sevenoaks.
The school plans to establish that the new site is an extension of the old one by running staff and pupils between the two. But legal challenges are expected, with a judicial review most likely. The school plans to establish that the new site is an extension of the existing one by running staff and pupils between the two. But legal challenges are expected, with a judicial review most likely.
Local authorities such as Buckinghamshire, Reading and Wiltshire are thought to be watching the decision closely. But none has gone on the record to say it plans to follow suit as yet.Local authorities such as Buckinghamshire, Reading and Wiltshire are thought to be watching the decision closely. But none has gone on the record to say it plans to follow suit as yet.
However, there is a grammar school in Maidenhead known to want to expand on to another "satellite" site.However, there is a grammar school in Maidenhead known to want to expand on to another "satellite" site.