(^100) Cornwall Life: August 2019
T
he momentous Education
Act of 1944 meant that
all children up until
the age of 15 would be
entitled to free schooling, and
with this came the introduction
of a tripartite system of grammar,
secondary modern and technical
schools. All children had to take
an ‘11+’ exam, so called because
of the age at which it was taken:
those who passed the exam would
go to their local grammar school,
whilst those who didn’t would
go to the alternative secondary
modern or technical school. In the
1960s and 70s, this system began
to be phased out in favour of the
introduction of comprehensive
schools, which were designed
to offer a much more universal
education, and many Local
Education Authorities shut down
their grammar schools or they
went private.
However in other regions
grammar schools, and therefore
the 11+, were kept in place and
many are still in existence today.
Wherever you live, though,
sending your child to a grammar
school is completely optional and it
may well be the case that the local
comprehensive is the better choice
for them personally anyway. ‘Wise
parents will suit the school to
the child and not the child to the
school,’ explains Susan Hamlyn,
education consultant at The Good
Schools Guide.
If you have decided to enter your
child for the 11+ exam in the hope
of securing a place at a grammar
school, the next step is to find out
when all the necessary deadlines
are throughout the process. ‘Make
sure you’ve been to the open days
and put in all the application
forms,’ Susan adds. To register
your child for the 11+, you will
normally need to apply directly to
the school in the summer of Year 5.
Testing then typically takes place
in the September of Year 6, with
results coming out by the end of
October. It is also important to find
out exactly what that particular
exam will involve, since this can
differ considerably depending
on where you live. Some regions
use the GL exam board, whereas
others use CEM; GL tests verbal
reasoning, non-verbal reasoning,
maths and English, whereas CEM
measures verbal reasoning, non-
verbal reasoning and numerical
reasoning. A tutor can sometimes
be advisable, even if it’s just for a
few sessions to explain the format
of the exam.
Past papers can be an effective
form of preparation; these are
published by specialist companies
such as Bond, which is part of
Oxford University Press. ‘It is
through practising realistic
questions again and again that
children gain confidence in
tackling questions in whatever
format they may appear,’ explains
Rachel Howells, commissioning
editor for Bond. She adds that
the exact amount of preparation,
and the form it should take, will
depend on the individual. ‘For
some, a little-and-often approach
over a number of years will work
well,’ she says, ‘whilst for others
it may be better to start later
and focus more practice into
concentrated periods ahead of
the test.’ In many ways, the most
important preparation of all is to
reassure your child that all is going
to be fine. It’s key to support them
every step of the way and to show
them that there are plenty of other
options out there: getting into the
grammar school isn’t the be-all
and end-all.
Talk of the 11+, and the wider
debate that this sparks about
grammar schools, rumbles on –
but if you are entering your child
for the 11+, make sure that you
know your stuff. There is plenty of
information online via your local
authority’s website, and teachers
and tutors are always on hand to
offer valuable advice too.
Find out more about the 11+ at
goodschoolsguide.co.uk
MAKING
THE GRADE
As many children around the country get ready to
take the 11+ exam, we look back at its history, what
it involves and the preparation that it requires
WORDS:Ellie Fells
ABOVE:
There is plenty
you can do to help
pupils prepare for
the 11+ exam
EDUCATION
Photo: bowdenimages / Getty Images/iStockphoto
barry
(Barry)
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