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Original poster

Does Grammar School not exist to some people?

669 replies

tippytoesah · 02/08/2019 08:37

Surely it must do?

I've never really discussed schooling before with DH as DC is still so young. But I did recently and mentioned that if he showed promise or wanting to take the 11+, we would support him in any way possible.

He looked at me as if I had two heads and said "What's an 11+? Confused"

He really didn't know it was a thing and had never heard of it. I was shocked and mentioned it to SIL and her friend who also have 0 idea what it is!

I'm not from around here and I grew up in Essex. It was quite a big thing in that county, or at least the area I was in. You either went to a non Christian school which was absolutely terrible, went to a Christian school who were actually half decent or you did the 11+ if you were really bright. It was encouraged and supported.

Does it not even exist in some places then? I will look further into it but DH and close relatives/friends seem to be as clueless as him... maybe it isn't a thing in that part of the county

OP posts:
Original poster
tippytoesah · 02/08/2019 08:37

*this part of the country

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 02/08/2019 08:38

There is not a grammar school in every town or city.

AChickenCalledDaal · 02/08/2019 08:39

No, most counties in England do not have grammar schools. And I don't think there are any at all in Scotland.

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mrselizabethdarcy · 02/08/2019 08:39

I'm in the north east and as far as I know we don't have grammar schools around here

NightmareLoon · 02/08/2019 08:39

Grammar schools don't exist (any longer) in the majority of the country. Everyone in my county goes to a comp (if not private, etc).

Original poster
tippytoesah · 02/08/2019 08:39

Zero no but it would be fairly close by.

For example, if you live in Basildon Essex you could go to Southend High for Girls (grammar school), etc.

OP posts:
ethelredonagoodday · 02/08/2019 08:40

As far as I know, there are no grammar schools here in North Yorks' other than those that are grammars in name only?

Readytogogogo · 02/08/2019 08:41

Of course they don't exist for all of the country. The norm is non-selective schools.

Original poster
tippytoesah · 02/08/2019 08:41

Oh I see! I really wasn't aware. I thought grammar schools were quite a big thing in England in general. I have no source to back that up, it was purely an assumption Blush

OP posts:
ExpletiveDelighted · 02/08/2019 08:41

Doesn't exist here, I only know about it because I did live in a grammar school area for a few years and remember my work colleagues stressing about it. Other than that I've only ever heard it discussed on MN (I have two secondary school age DC).

AChickenCalledDaal · 02/08/2019 08:41

Our nearest grammar schools are an hour's journey away. They are also super-selective and places are like hens teeth. Ours go to an excellent comprehensive school, along with the vast majority of their state educated pets.

Chartreuser · 02/08/2019 08:41

A few London boroughs have them, mine didn't, both next door ones and neighbouring county do.A few counties have them but on the whole they are a rarity. There are still some in Essex but none where DH or I grew up. Although some private schools that called themselves grammars just to confuse things!

ethelredonagoodday · 02/08/2019 08:42

And it's fair to say, as others have noted, there haven't been grammar schools here for a very long time... I'm in my 40s and went to a comp...

ClashCityRocker · 02/08/2019 08:42

Not a thing in this particular part of North Yorkshire. I know what the 11+ and roughly how it all works though and know it is A Big Deal in some parts of the country.

I always had the impression there were fewer grammar school areas than there were not, but that might be just because I've never lived in one.

Original poster
tippytoesah · 02/08/2019 08:42

I suppose a big part of my thinking that it was big all over was because even the toughest of the roughest parts of Essex have schools with successful primary children passing their 11+

OP posts:
LemonRedwood · 02/08/2019 08:43

Some local authorities abolished the 11+ system quite a while ago. I'm in Herts and although we don't technically have a grammar school/11+ system any more, some schools allocate a certain number of spaces based on an academic test (Watford Consortium is an example of this) but it's not called 11+. Those living close the the Bucks border will have heard of 11+ as they may also look at Bucks schools for their children. Those living more central in the county will have no use for an 11+ so wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't heard the phrase.

AChickenCalledDaal · 02/08/2019 08:43

peers - obviously our pets do not go to school, grammar or otherwise!!!!

Mrsjayy · 02/08/2019 08:43

We don't have Grammar schools in Scotland so no 11+

CitadelsofScience · 02/08/2019 08:43

We have no grammars in the county I live in. There used to be apparently but not anymore.

ineedaholidaynow · 02/08/2019 08:43

There are no grammar schools in the immediate area where we live, so no-one in the local schools would be taking the 11+.

There are a couple of grammar schools in the county but are about 50 miles away.

I would have thought people would know what an 11+ was though, but just that it was not available in your area.

Original poster
tippytoesah · 02/08/2019 08:43

Lemon I'm in the Beds/Herts area

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 02/08/2019 08:43

Dd did her 11+ for the 2 Grammars in the next town over (where I grew up)
When we were going through the process I was amazed at how many parents with dc in her year knew nothing about it or who knew there was a Grammar but not If or how they would apply. I suppose if there isn’t one directly in your area you might not be aware and most schools round here won’t get involved even to the extent of refusing to answer if you ask whether you think your child is capable of getting in

JoJoSM2 · 02/08/2019 08:44

As above, grammars aren’t widespread at all. According to Wikipedia, there are 163 in England. However, there are some partially selective comps too.

daisypond · 02/08/2019 08:44

No grammar schools where I live. And none where I grew up either. Most places don’t have any grammar schools.

MissBPotter · 02/08/2019 08:44

You really didn’t realize grammars don’t exist in most parts of England? I live in the grammar school bit of Essex but even in basildon as mentioned above it is not a grammar school area. All schools are comps but of course some parents want their kids to go to the grammar schools. You seem to have a very narrow view of the world, based purely on the information in this post.