What is a Grammer School?

As your child approaches the end of primary school, it’s natural to start thinking about the transition to secondary school and whether you should consider grammar schools? It’s essential to think about grammar schools early because your child will have to pass the 11 plus entrance examination to gain admission.

But what is a grammar school? And how do they differ from other types of secondary schools? This page has everything you need to know about grammar schools and can help you decide if they are best suited for your child.

Grammar schools are government-funded secondary schools and are entirely selective based on academic ability. Currently, There are 164 grammar schools in England (of around 24,000 state schools) and 69 in Northern Ireland.

Bob McCartney, chair of the National Grammar Schools Association, defines them as pursuing academic excellence, traditional teaching methods, and strict discipline ethos.

He highlights that pupils are selected based on their academic potential to identify those most suitable for this type of education.

Grammar School Requirements

All grammar schools select pupils either entirely or partly based on their performance in the 11 plus exam, usually taken at the beginning of Year 6. The test focuses on each candidates’ academic potential.

There are many versions of the 11 plus exam. To learn more, you can read about the different assessments here. With that said, each assessment tends to focus on the same areas of mathematics and English:

• Numerical reasoning (maths)

• Verbal reasoning

• English comprehension, punctuation and grammar

• Non-verbal reasoning

• Creative writing

Most test providers and secondary schools will advise against coaching for the 11 plus exam. But it is common practice for parents to invest in a tutor to help their child get prepared. This is because state primary schools do not prepare children for the test.

In Northern Ireland, children who wish to apply are prepared in advance to reduce the impact of private tutoring.

It is also worth noting that the required standard grade can also vary from year to year. Schools publish information about their pass marks to help give you an understanding

Something many parents aren’t aware of is that passing the test does not guarantee a place. You will also need to apply through your local authority’s common application form. Each school will have its own admissions criteria; nearly all offers of a place are based on the results of a selection test set by the school or the local authority.

Why are grammar schools popular?

In some areas, the demand for grammar schools is considerably high, often leading to parents relocating their families so that their home is within a specific school’s catchment area. Pupils at these schools tend to perform better in their GCSEs than pupils from other schools. Additionally, grammar schools tend to be the highest performing schools in local and national league tables.

A poll published in April 2015 by ComRes found 51% of British adults support allowing new grammar schools to open. Parents feel that sending their child to a grammar school will improve access to better universities because of the grammar school’s connections, subsequently increasing their child’s likelihood of securing a better future.

Should grammar schools be abolished?

However, not all agree that grammar schools should exist, as many have argued that there is inequality within the system. Many people feel that wealthier children have greater access to grammar schools because their parents afford the costs associated with preparing their child in advance, for example, via a tutor.

There is also the argument of the 11 plus exam being unfair as not all children can take this exam at the age of 10 or 11. Children at this age are still developing cognitive skills, hence, ignoring late developers.

The psychological effect of children perceiving themselves as ‘failures’ is often not considered and can significantly impact a child’s self-esteem as they continue into adolescence.

Grammar School Pros and Cons

Even with the above information, many parents will still prefer to send their children to grammar schools. This is why we have decided it would be a good idea to lay out some pros and cons to help you make your decision.

Pros

● Grammar schools offer excellent faculties and extracurricular-

It is said that grammar schools can provide more facilities and extracurricular than other secondary schools

● Outstanding state education

It has been consistently found that children who are educated through grammar schools are more likely to enter Russell Group universities such as Oxford or Cambridge

● Better opportunities for the working-class families

There is the argument that that grammar schools can give working-class talented children better opportunities.

● Encourages the culture of outstanding achievements

We often hear that children are bullied for being high achievers, so state schools do not foster discipline during the learning process. However, grammar schools provide a much safer learning environment for students and encourage an excellent achievement culture.

Cons

● Contributes to social levelling

There have been claims that grammar schools do not increase social mobility but instead leads to the opposite.

● Psychological effect

There can be harmful psychological effects on students who fail to pass the exam at the designated age. Some children are unable to keep up with the curriculum even if they do get in. This can be very harmful to your child’s mental health

● The 11+ system favours families who can afford intensive tutoring

In England, primary schools do not contribute to tutoring students for the 11 plus exams indicates that this is only possible if you can afford it.

As a family, you need to weigh up your options and decide if grammar schools are for you and your child.