HomeReaders CommentsReader’s Comment: The eleven-plus exam should be taken by all pupils

Reader’s Comment: The eleven-plus exam should be taken by all pupils

September 10, 2016

In response to Chris McGovern: Ministers should stop being so defensive about reviving grammars, Busy Mum wrote:

May is going to force new grammars to take a certain percentage of ‘disadvantaged’ children but has outlawed mass 11+ testing.

I often see teachers etc moaning that existing grammar schools only educate a tiny proportion of FSM (free school meals) children. When will they all grasp that an element of being ‘disadvantaged’ is having parents who a) might not recognise their child’s academic ability and b) probably would not bother to enter their child for the 11+ when it is optional?

The only way to ensure ‘disadvantaged’ children have equal access to grammar schools is to make the 11+ (or whatever age is agreed) compulsory. They make SATS compulsory at age 11 and quite frankly, I cannot see the difference.

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