A brief history of grammar schools and the reason why students are not prepared for the 11 Plus exams everywhere.
Since the 1960s, grammar schools have begun to close. In their place, comprehensive schools have climbed in popularity.
Grammar schools are notorious for selecting their students through the 11 Plus exam and interviews, with some even charging admittance fees.
Comprehensive schools, on the other hand, are available to all students and they are free.
There are now less than 200 grammar schools in England.
Why were grammar schools closed?
During the 1950s and 1960s, Labour politicians opted against grammar schools, saying they reinforced middle-class privilege and a class divide. In 1965, local authorities were ordered to begin phasing them out.
Currently, there are grammar schools in some regions of the country, including Buckinghamshire and Kent.
In some areas, including Birmingham, some grammar schools survived when the rest of the local schools became comprehensive.
Why are they less popular?
As previously stated, many people believe grammar schools maintain a divide in class, with places only available to better-off families.
Furthermore, the 11 Plus is a challenging exam, with the general view being that middle-class families can afford tuition while others cannot.
Many people feel that the 11 Plus does not separate pupils fairly. Some believe the exam is not a true representative of a child’s ability. Also, splitting children into groups may lead to some developing insecurities.
What are the benefits of grammar schools?
It is fair to say that grammar schools are controversial, with the entire topic a divisive one.
However, the schools were introduced to allow the best students to succeed, and that sentiment remains today.
Grammar schools provide education that prepares children for higher education, such as for university degrees or top-tier jobs.
Their students generally come out with better GCSE results than those at comprehensive schools. In addition to this, the environment may help gifted and talented students to excel further.
Is tuition the key to securing a place at a grammar school?
Because the 11 Plus syllabus is not part of the national curriculum, primary schools are not required to teach it.
Those in favour of abolishing grammar schools believe this results in places going to children whose families can afford tuition.
However, children do not have to rely on tuition to succeed in the 11 Plus entirely.
Schools in areas that have local grammar schools often teach the exam syllabus to the children capable of passing as part of the schools’ extracurricular programmes.
External tuition helps children to narrow down their focus and secure one of the highly coveted places at the grammar school of their choice.
How Tuition Tree can help with 11 Plus preparations
Tuition Tree specialises in providing bespoke private tuition services to students who are preparing for the 11 Plus exam.
Our remarkable track record speaks for itself, with an impressive 84% success rate of students gaining admission into grammar schools.
We offer a variety of flexible options for your child, including personalized one-on-one study sessions, dynamic group study sessions, or a tailored combination of both.
Our expert tutors are dedicated to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment that fosters academic excellence.
If you are interested in our exceptional services and would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team is readily available to assist you and answer any questions you may have about our tuition services.
To reach us, you can call us directly at 0121 270 2889, or you can use our convenient call-back form to request a call from us.
Additionally, you can also reach us via email at info@tuitiontree.co.uk for further information or queries.
Our location in Edgbaston, Birmingham can be found by following this link.
