I have noticed that some state, non-selective secondary schools now have "grammar streams".
They do not admit any pupils based on a test and regardless of distance.
They still admit mostly based on distance. But admitted students sit a test and the best ones are put in a "grammar stream".
They make a big song and dance about it, but my question is.... is this any different from dividing students into different sets or streams but without shouting "grammar stream" from the rooftops? (I understand sets can vary by subject while a stream applies to all subjects, right?)
This is an article from 5 years ago about this trend: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/91656-2/
At this school https://www.barnsley-academy.org/education-with-character/the-grammar-stream "They will be taught a more challenging and in-depth curriculum from Year 7 onwards, as well as having access to a programme of extracurricular opportunities". The structure in most schools (academies) of this group seems the same
It seems that this group has taken over a number of schools which weren't doing well. So is this just a marketing buzzword to signal that, under new management, they are much better?
Or is there some merit to it? In which case, what would be the difference from the typical school that divides students into sets or streams?