As your child makes the transition from primary school to secondary school, they may be invited or suggested to take an additional test to see if they are suitable to go to a grammar school and therefore should start taking 11 plus tuition.
The 11 plus or eleven-plus is an entrance exam used in a few counties and boroughs that tests how a student solves problems to see if they would be best suited to spend the rest of their school days in a grammar school rather than a state or comprehensive school.
In some ways, it is similar to the more familiar SATs taken ahead of a child moving up from primary to secondary school, but alongside a mathematics and English paper, the eleven-plus also has a verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning portion.
The eleven-plus was designed for the Tripartite system, where instead of having different sets and streams of students through secondary education, there would be three types of schools that children would go to based on their particular skills.
Grammar schools would be the next academic step for those who passed the eleven-plus, with a focus on typically academic subjects such as classics, literature, complex mathematics and other subjects with a focus on abstract ideas that set them up for university and academia.
After this, there were secondary technical schools, which would teach the sciences, as well as mechanical engineering and practical skills, designed to help people become technicians and scientists going forward.
Finally, there were secondary modern schools, which would teach practical skills and ready people for important jobs but also ones that required less technical skill and know-how.
However, whilst this was the promise when the Tripartite system was introduced in 1945, it quickly fell apart when very few secondary technical skills were set up, and secondary modern schools were neglected, which created an unintended hierarchy.
Eventually, the differences disappeared as secondary modern schools offered the same courses and highlighted the capability of students irrespective of background.
With that said, the eleven-plus is still an option in some counties to enter grammar schools, and some academies with entrance exams use systems similar to the eleven-plus.
wow!! 89Why Does The Eleven-Plus Exam Differ Across The Country?
The Eleven-Plus exam, a standardised test used in some parts of the UK to determine which type of secondary school a child should attend, differs across the country for several reasons:
1. Local Education Authorities: Different local education authorities (LEAs) have control over their own versions of the exam, leading to variations in content, format, and difficulty.
2. Historical Development: The exam’s history varies by region. Some areas have maintained traditional formats, while others have adapted the exam to better align with current educational standards and needs.
3. Selective School Policies: The presence and policies of selective schools, such as grammar schools, influence how the exam is administered. Areas with more selective schools might have more rigorous testing standards.
4. Educational Priorities: Regional educational priorities and strategies can shape the exam. For example, some regions might focus more on verbal reasoning, while others might prioritise mathematics or non-verbal reasoning.
5. Independent and Consortia Schools: Independent schools and school consortia sometimes set their own entrance exams, which can influence the structure of the Eleven-Plus in their regions.
These factors contribute to the differences in the Eleven-Plus exam across various parts of the UK.