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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 | 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 grammar schools 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, while pupils those 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". |
| More common across the UK is the "comprehensive" system, in which pupils of all abilities and aptitudes are taught together. | More common across the UK is the "comprehensive" system, in which pupils of all abilities and aptitudes are taught together. |
| 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. |
| At the same time secondary education was reorganised 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 selective education 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 quickest changes were made in Labour-controlled areas, while strongly Conservative counties moved slowly or not at all. | The quickest changes were made in Labour-controlled areas, while strongly Conservative counties moved slowly or not at all. |
| 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, North Yorkshire, 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 grammar schools 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 about the nature of the test, as it often features 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. |
| Grammar school entrance exams can consist of all or a subset of the following: | Grammar school entrance exams can consist of all or a subset of the following: |
| • Numerical reasoning (maths) | • Numerical reasoning (maths) |
| • Verbal reasoning | • Verbal reasoning |
| • English comprehension, punctuation and grammar | • English comprehension, punctuation and grammar |
| • Non-verbal reasoning | • Non-verbal reasoning |
| • Creative writing | • 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. |
| 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 or whether they already have a sibling there. | 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 11 Plus tutoring to children from an early age. | There are numerous companies that offer specialist 11 Plus tutoring to children from an early age. |
| Some examples of 11 Plus questions are below: | |
| 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. |
| Weald of Kent Grammar School, in Tonbridge, has side-stepped this law by expanding to another site nine miles away in Sevenoaks. | 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 existing 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. |
| Here are few examples of 11 Plus questions. | |
| Marco, Laura, Peter, Ben and Sally are out shopping for jackets. Ben and Laura want waterproof jackets, Peter and Sally want brightly coloured jackets with hoods, Laura and Marco want lightweight jackets and Marco and Ben want brightly coloured jackets but with a warm lining. | |
| Out of the following statements, which one must be true? Write your answer in the answer box below. | |
| A. Sally and Peter want different types of jackets. | |
| B. Only two people do not want brightly coloured jackets. | |
| C. No one wants a lightweight jacket with a hood. | |
| D. Sally wants a coat with a hood and a warm lining. | |
| E. Four of them do not want waterproofs. | |
| Identify which, if any, of the above shapes have been rotated to form the shape below. | |
| Select the option (A, B, C or D) which has the sentence with the most suitable grammar | |
| A. Was it he whom had a house burn down? | |
| B. Was it he whose house burnt down? | |
| C. Was it he that had a house burn down? | |
| D. Was it he who's house burnt down?. | |
| Where do the main political parties stand on grammar schools? | Where do the main political parties stand on grammar schools? |
| Labour oppose the creation of more grammar schools saying that instead of improving equality, they make it worse. | Labour oppose the creation of more grammar schools saying that instead of improving equality, they make it worse. |
| The Conservatives Party support for grammar schools has been lukewarm under David Cameron, but its manifesto states it will allow all good schools to expand "whether they are maintained schools, academies, free schools or grammar schools". | The Conservatives Party support for grammar schools has been lukewarm under David Cameron, but its manifesto states it will allow all good schools to expand "whether they are maintained schools, academies, free schools or grammar schools". |
| The Liberal Democrats would maintain the status quo, not opening any more or closing any existing ones. | The Liberal Democrats would maintain the status quo, not opening any more or closing any existing ones. |