Are Grammar Schools An Effective Way To Improve Social Mobility?

Are grammar schools an effective way to improve social mobility?
For my extended project qualification I have decided to write an essay based on my research and findings. The topic of my extended project qualification is grammar schools, and I will investigate whether or not they are an effective way to improve social mobility. Currently this topic is very topical and proving to be quite controversial. After I have finished studying for my A levels, I intend to apply to a university to study in the field of teaching. Once I have finished university, I would like to become a primary school teacher. Within my essay, I will include some information about grammar schools in general (what they are, whether they get the same results as a comprehensive …show more content…
Wealthier children are more likely to attend grammar schools, as the parents are able to afford the tuition. The chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw has said ‘grammar schools are stuffed full of middle class kids’. As you may be aware, all the students wishing to attend a grammar school, have to sit an entry exam known to many as the 11-plus exam. Lucy Powell, the shadow secretary of education, said ‘they are bad for social mobility and aspiration’ and are ‘wrong in principle to select children at the age of 11’ . Alan Milburn, the head of the Government social mobility department, told the guardian ‘pupils at selective schools were four or five times more likely to come from independent prep schools than from disadvantaged backgrounds’ . Many people believe that grammar schools open up the attainment gap between them and comprehensives, with the students attending a comprehensive feel as they are ‘losing out’. To gain a place at a grammar school, students must pass the 11-plus. Each year the grade thresholds change continually. This means that there is no uniformity on the type of students that they accept. When applying for a comprehensive school, the ‘favourite’ school may not be accepted due to not being in the catchment area. However with grammar schools, catchment areas are not generally taken into account. Many parents want their children to do well at school. This is definitely the situation at a grammar school. To pass the entry exam, parents pay for one to one tuition in order to be able to pass and gain a place in the school. Once the child has gained a place at the school, the tuition is dropped and as a result, the child struggles to keep up with the rest of the class