Prime Minister Theresa May has announced today the plans for the future of grammar schools and a change to the ban introduced by Labour in 1998. Her proposals state that all schools will now have the right to apply to become a grammar school and select pupils based on their academic ability, rather than solely the catchment area. In addition existing grammar schools will be able to expand.  

The proposed changes are destined to focus on “new grammars of the future…just one element of a truly diverse system”. Early talks of the new system ensure that the new grammar system will be different from the grammar and secondary model many remember from the 50s and 60s.

The main proposals include;

– Allowing existing grammar schools to expand;
– The opportunity to take pupils at 14 and 16 as well as 11 or take on students for certain subjects from non-selective schools;
– Selective schools facing access conditions including, taking a share of pupils from low-income backgrounds, setting up a new non-selective secondary or primary school or backing an under-performing academy.

Find the full summary of policies here

Here in the Turn IT On office we are watching as these proposals develop and are interested to see how schools respond.

In the meantime, we’ve been challenging ourselves to see if we could pass the 11 plus: have a go here and let us know how you get on!