Grammar schools and process in Bedfordshire

[Koihungry]

Hi I'm hoping people can help me with advice about grammar schools in and around Bedfordshire. My son is in year 4 and am thinking about grammar schools for him as I think that would be best for him. The secondary near us has a mixed reputation.

I know nothing about grammar schools except that you do the 11+.
Other than that I know nothing about the process of applying.

I'd appreciate any advice or help.

Just over the border in Cambridgeshire but have lived and worked in Bedfordshire. To my knowledge I don’t believe there are any grammars in Bedfordshire, they don’t use the grammar system?!

State or private?

I'm not sure that Bedfordshire has state grammars - I think the closest to Bedford are a distance away, in Buckingham and Aylesbury.

There are a couple of selective private schools in Bedford.

List of state grammars here:
https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schools/grammar-schools

You will probably find answers to all your questions on this website:
https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/

Beds is moving from 3 tier to 2 tier system but no grammar schools. The Harpur Trust charity has 4 selective schools

www.harpurtrust.org.uk/our-schools

That’s interesting, I went to lower and middle school in Beds and didn’t know they were changing the system.

@Koihungry FAOD, while the Harpur Trust is indeed a charity it runs fee-paying independent schools, the fact it’s a charity doesn’t mean the schools are free or cheap.

If you are set on a state grammar school you would almost certainly need to move to another area - Bucks or Essex probably the nearest, or more grammars in Kent I think. There are also some selective or partially selective schools in and around Watford.

@Koihungry you say you know nothing about grammar schools; you might want then to be aware that in a grammar area, those who for whatever reason don’t pass the 11+ go to a sec mod (maybe by another name) with all those who failed - so in general less academic students. People who are keen on grammars are often less keen if their dc don’t pass. Grammar areas vary in terms of what % they take which will make a difference to the intake of the various schools. So a super selective taking the top 10% will make less difference. But obvs it’s also harder to get into.

FWIW I am from Lincs, went to a grammar and my parents taught at sec mods. It would never be my choice for my one dc - and tutoring has vastly increased as well (not a thing in the70s lol)

I suggest you look again at your local secondary and also consider what other options there are locally. Unless you mean a private secondary in which case ignore me.

Bedfordshire has 3 different local authorities..bedford Borough, Central bedfordshire and Luton.

Central bedfordshire is moving from 3 tier to two tier..progress is slow though.

I don't believe there are any grammar schools in bedfordshire

As others have said, there are no grammar schools in Bedfordshire. If you are stuck on grammar schools (interesting that you say you think they would would be best for him but then go on to say you know nothing about them, so I'd maybe check the reason for this belief) you will need to move.

Although, if you are considering moving, you might be better considering all types of school for your move (e.g. there used to be some pretty decent schools near Bedford, not sure what they are like now). If you move to a grammar area, you also need to allow for him not passing the 11+ as non-grammar schools are quite variable in standard in these areas.