Grammar schools debate

The Grammar schools debate^[1] is a debate about the merits and demerits of the existence of grammar schools in the United Kingdom. Grammar schools are state schools which select their pupils on the basis of academic ability with pupils sitting an exam in the last year of primary called the 11-plus to determine whether or not they gain a place. The debate on selective education has been widened by measures introduced by the Labour government which allow a proportion of students to be chosen based on their "aptitude" for a particular subject.^[2]

Politics

Labour

In general, the left-wing such as the Labour Party oppose selective education,^[3] whereas the right-wing such as the Conservative Party have traditionally supported it.^[4] In March 2000 the then Education Secretary David Blunkett sought to close down the debate by saying "I'm desperately trying to avoid the whole debate in education concentrating on the issue of selection when it should be concentrating on the raising of standards. Arguments about selection are a past agenda."^[5]

Under laws brought in during the 1990s it is possible to ballot on whether to maintain a grammar school by gaining the signatures of a percentage of eligible parents.^[6]

Conservatives

Further information: Grammarsgate

Conservative Party support for grammars has been lukewarm under David Cameron who has stated the entire grammar schools debate is "pointless"^[7] and "sterile".^[8]

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats would not open any new grammar schools but would not close existing grammars.^[9]

Arguments in support

Individual successes

In 2006, according to the National Grammar Schools Association, pupils in England's 164 grammar schools produced more than half the total number of A grade A-levels in 'harder' A-level subjects than those produced by pupils in up to 2,000 comprehensive schools.^[10] Selective state schools produce some of the best performance in examinations based upon league tables.^[11]

Undermining privilege

In support of grammars it is argued that grammar schools provide an opportunity for students from low-income families to escape poverty^[12] and gain a high standard of education without recourse to the fee-paying sector. Oxbridge intake from state schools has decreased since grammars were largely abolished^[13] and studies have shown social mobility to have decreased.^[14]

More equitable

It has been argued that the grammar system helped bright working class students' social mobility. Chris Woodhead has stated "grammar schools have contributed more to social mobility than any other institution this country has known".^[15] Abolishing grammar schools may also be seen as attempting to impose a "one size fits all" education system on an area.^[12]

School environment

With increasing concern about levels of classroom discipline, it is argued that comprehensive schools can foster an environment that is not conducive to academic achievement.^[16] Bright children can suffer bullying for doing well at school, and have to justify their performance to their social group.^[16] The grammar school, by insulating the more able, would provide a safer environment to learn. The National Grammar Schools Association suggest that the ethos of a grammar school could foster a culture high of attainment.^[10]

Parental choice

Main article: Ripon Grammar School ballot

Further information: Education (Grammar School Ballots) Regulations 1998

When parents in Ripon were balloted on whether to maintain a grammar they voted in favour.^[17]

Arguments in opposition

Divisive

It is argued that the grammar school system is divisive^[18][19] and that the system leads to a waste of talent in those that fail the exam at aged 11.^[20] Roy Hattersley has argued that there is an adverse psychological effect on pupils when considered failures at aged 11.^[12]

National Challenge Schools

LEAs with a fully selective education system have a higher proportion of schools in the National Challenge, that is, schools that don't meet the government's floor target of 30% of students achieving at least 5 GCSE grades A*-C including English and Maths. Kent currently has 33 National Challenge schools, more than any other LEA in England.^[21] This is out of a total of 96 secondary schools, representing 34% of the total number of schools, higher than any other Shire non-urban LEA.^[22] Lincolnshire, which also operates a fully selective system, too has a high proportion of National Challenge schools, 29%, compared to 0% in neighboring, fully comprehensive, Leicestershire.

Class bias

Many opponents of the Tripartite System argue that the grammar school was antithetical to social levelling,^[16] that claims of raising social mobility were misleading,^[23] and that the intake of grammar schools is firmly middle class^[24] as evidenced by the low number of students on free school meals at grammar schools.^[12] Although considering most grammar schools reside in Conservative areas (because Labour councils closed grammars), it is hardly surprising they are dominated by the middle class. It has been argued the current system benefits the middle classes who can afford private tuition for the 11 plus exam.^[25]

Regional and gender variation in opportunities

While an average of 25% of pupils may have received grammar school educations across the country, practicalities and local political decisions led to widespread variations on the ground.^{[citation needed]} Some locations (for example, parts of South Wales), provided grammar school educations to around 40% of children - while many fewer were able to attend grammar schools in other locations.^{[citation needed]}

Similarly, the numbers of places offered to boys and girls varied not according to their results in the 11+, but to practical considerations about the number of places in girls and boys schools. There was no duty on a local authority to provide the same numbers of places to boys and girls, let alone to set the same standard for boys and girls. In practice, where there were equal numbers of places available for boys and girls, the 11+ pass mark tended to be higher for girls than for boys.^{[citation needed]}

Starving resources

Some research suggests that closing grammar schools would improve overall test results.^[26] Research from York University suggests that the average GCSE performance of able pupils who go to comprehensive schools is as good as that of able pupils who go to grammar schools^[26] and that the existence of grammar schools depresses overall exam perforamnce in an LEA.

Unrepresentative testing

Early tests have been attacked^[who?] for their cultural bias, while more general debates about the relationship between IQ and test scores. Important research used in support of the introduction of the eleven plus has since been brought into question.^{[citation needed]} In addition, it is widely agreed^[who?] that cognitive development continues well past the age of 11, meaning that the 11-plus system will ignore late developers.There have also been allegations, for example by the pro-comprehensive sociologist A. H. Halsey that administrative errors resulted in as many as 70,000 results going astray or being misclassified each year.^{[citation needed]} Although this is a situation which could be rectified, it is further evidence of the practical difficulties involved in assessing children as young as 11. Indeed, such a decision must be accurate, due to the large influence it will have over that child's life.

Failures of curriculum

Grammar Schools have been criticised for their negative effect on primary education as schools are subject to continual pressure to train pupils to pass the test.^[12]

See also

• German Gymnasium debate

References

1. ^ "Kent News - Grammar school debate". BBC. 2007-02-14. http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/news/features/grammars_jackson.shtml. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
2. ^ http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/UK_grammar_schools.php
3. ^ Baker, Mike (2003-02-15). "Education | What future for grammar schools?". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/features/mike_baker/2763973.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
4. ^ Abrams, Fran (1997-03-19). "Major's grammar scheme is ditched -News". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/majors-grammar-scheme-is-ditched-1273714.html. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
5. ^ "Grammar debate is a 'past agenda'", BBC News, 12 March 2000
6. ^ Carvel, John (2001-05-08). "Battle is joined on grammar schools' future | Education". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/1999/sep/01/grammarschools.secondaryschools. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
7. ^ "Politics | Cameron hits back over grammars". BBC News. 2007-05-16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6658613.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
8. ^ Logged in as click here to log out (2008-06-28). "Mike Ion: Grammar schools are a tricky issue for the Tories too | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/28/grammarschools.educationnews. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
9. ^ "Q&A: What are grammar schools?". BBC News. 2007-05-16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6660823.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Home of the National Grammar Schools Association - grammar, grammar schools, state grammar schools, parents, governors, headmasters, headmistresses, education, educationalists". Ngsa.org.uk. http://www.ngsa.org.uk/articles/com_010.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
11. ^ Smithers, Rebecca (2001-05-08). "Grammar schools scoop GCSE laurels | UK news". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/aug/25/grammarschools.education. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
12. ^ ^{a b c d e} By Carien du Plessis (2001-05-08). "What was said | Education | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/1999/dec/08/grammarschools.secondaryschools1. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
13. ^ "Pros and Cons of reintroducing grammar schools | Opinion". The First Post. 2007-05-21. http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/6954,opinion,pros-and-cons-of-reintroducing-grammar-schools. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
14. ^ "Disturbing finding from LSE study - social mobility in Britain lower than other advanced countries and declining - 2005 - News archive - News - Press and Information Office - External Relations Division - Home". Lse.ac.uk. http://www2.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2005/LSE_SuttonTrust_report.aspx. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
15. ^ "Politics | Tories' grammar school 'betrayal'". BBC News. 2007-10-02. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7024685.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
16. ^ ^{a b c} Grammar school debate: Are Grammar Schools Better?, Kate Jackson on BBC Kent.
17. ^ Smithers, Rebecca (2001-05-08). "Parents vote to retain Ripon grammar school | UK news". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/mar/11/grammarschools.secondaryschools. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
18. ^ "Education | Grammar schools divisive, says PM". BBC News. 1999-02-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/276036.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
19. ^ Hattersley, Roy (2001-05-08). "For | Education". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/1999/dec/07/grammarschools.secondaryschools. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
20. ^ Close (2001-05-08). "Early parting | Education". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/1999/dec/07/grammarschools.secondaryschools3. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
21. ^ "'No excuses' on school results". BBC News. 2008-06-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7444822.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
22. ^ www.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalchallenge/downloads/DataSheet.pdf
23. ^ Carvel, John (2001-05-08). "Grammar schools 'no escape route for poorer children' | Education". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/1999/may/29/grammarschools.secondaryschools. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
24. ^ Paton, Graeme (2008-12-18). "Middle-class children coached to get into grammar school". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/3832871/Middle-class-children-coached-to-get-into-grammar-school.html. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
25. ^ Burnell, Paul (2008-12-18). "Education | Is the 11-plus social selection?". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7789748.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
26. ^ ^{a b} MacLeod, Donald (2001-05-08). "Closing grammar schools 'would improve exam results' | Education". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/1999/nov/02/grammarschools.secondaryschools. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 

Further reading

• Hitchens, Peter (2009). "Chapter 11. The Fall of the Meritocracy". The Broken Compass: How British Politics Lost its Way. Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd. ISBN 1847064051. 

External links

• National Grammar School Association
• Comprehensive Future
• Campaign for State Education