Should the Government create more Grammar Schools?
Theresa May and Justine Greening the new Education Secretary have said they would like to open more non-fee paying grammar schools in England as they offer a chance to increase the academic ability of a lot more children.
Most large towns used to have one or two grammar schools where children who passed the 11+ exam could attend. In addition, children who got the required amount of O’Levels also had the opportunity attend a grammar school to take their A’Levels.
In the 1960s, Labour MP Tony Crossland stated he wanted to get rid of all grammar schools in the UK and the government went on to remove most of them, setting up comprehensive schools in their place with only 164 grammars now remaining in the UK.
Opponents of grammar schools said they only educated the middle classes and those who were capable of passing the 11+. Supporters say they allowed all pupils the same chances and gave the highest standards of education, which is what the UK needs to be globally competitive.
What’s your view? Did you attend a grammar school? Are there still any grammar schools in your area? Should we re-introduce grammar schools in the UK, or leave the system like it is?
Should the Government create more Grammar Schools?
243 people have already voted, what's your opinion? Yes - we should re-introduce them No - we should leave the system how it isWhat are your views?
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It meant taking me out of school at 15 to find a job to help the Family income. I didn't mind because I wasn't all that interested to go to University
1) The test in theory cannot be tutored for, but in practice it can be - techniques can be learnt and practice papers are readily available
2) Kids get tutored to death in order to pass the exam - the main reason being that the alternative schools, i.e. the upper or all ability schools are so dire and often in special measures.
3) Lower income families cannot afford the tutoring (£30 an hour in our area) so their children are at a disadvantage. Probably whilst most kids who attend grammar are "middle class"
4) The test is biased to English which puts those who have strengths in maths at a disadvantage
5) The system is not consistent. Different exams, different pass rates by area.
6) Local school take children from up to 30 miles away as they cream off the best kids in order to get the best results in exams, forcing local children to travel many miles to alternative schools.
There is also far too much emphasis on academic achievement these days. Children should be nurtured whatever their strengths.
To my mind the grammar schools should be scrapped and one educational system across the whole country should be put in place. There would be less pressure on the 10 year old children. Less likely to be inadequate and underperforming schools due to the grammar schools creaming off the clever kids. And every child would get the same standard of education - and that's from someone who had children in the grammar school system!
Perhaps I would have disliked any school, but I often feel I would have fared better at a school akin to the excellent comprehensive school my 3 children attended. They were streamed according to ability, with the option to move up or down a level should this be deemed more appropriate. Support, were necessary, was available to pupils & my 3 all thrived in the environment, whereas, I with my lack of mathematical nous, floundered in the bottom set tutored by unsympathetic teachers!
To this day I, have issues with elitist education, whether by a selection process or financial clout. Children develop at different rates, whether physically or intellectually & to consign a child to a lesser school because they failed an exam or because their parents are unable to afford fees is terribly wrong. All children should be afforded equality of opportunity, regardless of a test result or family financial resources.
So, my opinion is that there should be no further grammar schools, those already in existence should be scrapped, together with the schools in the private education system.
Grammar or no grammar? Surely yet more tinkering with the already broken education system will achieve little, if anything.
It seems to me, watching my grand children grow up, education has become a culture serving educationalists! With so very many employers needing to pay for further education to bring entrants up to a beginner's standard, we should do more than question the system. Presently, neither youngsters nor employers are well served.
Personnally, I would prefer to see a return to an updated Butler Education Act of 1944; take the cream off the top and do your best with the rest. At least it delivered the goods; goods which brought Britain out of the wreckage of the Second World War and built this country. No need for Polish plumbers then!