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Encyclopedia > Grammar schools in the United Kingdom

A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom. Four distinct uses of the word can be noted, the first two referring to ordinary schools set up in the age before compulsory secondary education, and two referring to selective schools thereafter. Arguably the most famous grammar schools were those of the Tripartite System, also known colloquially as the grammar-school system. Students in Rome, Italy. ... A selective school is a school which admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. ... The Tripartite System, known colloquially as the grammar school system, was the structure by which Britains secondary education was organised between the 1944 Butler Education Act and 1976. ...

Contents

Early Grammar Schools

In mediaeval times, the importance of Latin in government and religion meant there was a strong demand to learn the language. Schools were set up to teach the basis of Latin grammar, calling themselves ‘grammar schools’. The first such schools appeared in Anglo-Saxon times, but the majority of them were founded after the fifteenth century. Significantly, these schools were often separate from the church, unlike cathedral schools and hence survived the Reformation. Pupils were usually educated up to the age of 14, after which they would look to universities and the church for further study. Some new schools were founded and other schools which were associated with the church were refounded with the proceeds of the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... In medieval europe, cathedral schools were schools operated by cathedrals, typically having fewer than 100 students. ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... dissolution see Dissolution. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ...


In the absence of civic authorities, grammar schools were established as acts of charity, either by private benefactors or corporate bodies such as guilds. Many of these are still commemorated in annual Founders' Day services and ceremonies at surviving schools. Edward VI also made an important contribution to grammar schools, founding a series of schools during his reign. In spite of these donations, the schools relied on fees paid by the students. A guild is an association of craftspeople in a particular trade. ... Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) became King of England, King of France (in practice only the town and surrounding district of Calais) and Ireland on 28 January 1547, and crowned on 20 February, at just nine years of age. ...


Teaching usually took place from dawn to dusk, and focused heavily upon the rote learning of Latin. In order to encourage fluency, some schoolmasters recommended punishing any pupil who spoke in English. It would be several years before pupils were able to construct a sentence, and they would be in their final years at the school when they began translating passages. By the end of their studies, they would be quite familiar with the great Latin authors, as well as the studies of drama and rhetoric. [1] It has been suggested that Rote memory be merged into this article or section. ...


Other skills, such as numeracy and handwriting, were neglected, being taught in odd moments or by travelling specialist teachers such as scriveners. Little attention was given to other classical languages, such as Greek, due in part to a shortage of non-latin type and of teachers fluent in the language. Telling a problem to a public scrivener. ...


Victorian Grammar Schools

The revolution in civic government that took place in the late 19th century created a new breed of grammar schools. After the 1869 Endowed Schools Act it became markedly easier to set up a school. At the time, there was a great emphasis on the importance of self-improvement, and parents keen for their children to receive a decent education took a lead in organising the creation of new schools. Many took the title ‘grammar school’ for historical reasons. The W. Edwards Deming Institute. ...


Grammar schools thus emerged as one part of the highly varied education system of England and Wales before 1944. These newer schools tended to emulate the great public schools, copying their curriculum, ethos and ambitions. Many schools also adopted the idea of entrance exams and scholarship places for poorer students. This meant that they offered able children from poor backgrounds an opportunity to get a good education. The term public school has two contrary meanings: In England, one of a small number of prestigious historic schools open to the public which normally charge fees and are financed by bodies other than the state, commonly as private charitable trusts; here the word public is used much as in...


Grammar Schools in the Tripartite System

See main article on the Tripartite System for more information, or that on debates on the grammar school for discussions of arguments about its merits The Tripartite System, known colloquially as the grammar school system, was the structure by which Britains secondary education was organised between the 1944 Butler Education Act and 1976. ... The debate about the merits of the British Tripartite System, also known as the grammar school system, still continues forty years after its abolition was initiated. ...


The 1944 Butler Education Act created the first nationwide system of secondary education in England and Wales. Three types of schools were planned, one of which was the grammar school. Intended to teach an academic curriculum to intellectually able children who did well in their eleven plus examination, the grammar school soon established itself as the best tier in the Tripartite System. The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary schools in England and Wales. ... The Eleven Plus is an examination which was given to students in their last year of primary education in the United Kingdom under the Tripartite System. ... The Tripartite System, known colloquially as the grammar school system, was the structure by which Britains secondary education was organised between the 1944 Butler Education Act and 1976. ...


Two types of grammar school existed under the system. Most were either newly created or built since the Victorian period. They emulated the older grammar schools, with gowned teachers and cane-wielding prefects. In addition, they sought to replicate the studious, aspirational atmosphere found in such establishments.


In addition to those run fully by the state, there were 179 Direct Grant Grammar schools. These took between one quarter and one half of their pupils from the state system, and the rest from fee-paying parents. They also exercised far greater freedom from local authorities, and were members of the Headmasters' Conference. These schools included some very old schools, encouraged to partake in the Tripartite System, and achieved the best academic results of any state schools. The most famous example of a Direct Grant Grammar was Manchester Grammar School, whose headmaster, Lord James of Rusholme, was one of the most outspoken advocates of the Tripartite System. The Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC) is an association of the head teachers of 242 leading British independent boys and mixed schools. ... The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) is an independent boys school (ages 11-18) in Fallowfield, Manchester, England. ...


Pupils were given the best opportunities of any schoolchildren. They studied for the General Certificate of Education examination at the Ordinary Level (known as O-level), which existed before the introduction of the Certificate of Secondary Education (known as the CSE), and considered to be more valuable. Their schools possessed better facilities and received more funding than their secondary modern counterparts. Until the implementation of the Robbins Report in the 1960s, children from public and grammar schools effectively monopolised access to university. These schools were also the only ones that offered an extra term of school to prepare pupils for the competitive entrance exams for Oxbridge. The General Certificate of Education or GCE is a secondary-level academic qualification, which was used in Britain and continues to be used in some former British colonies. ... The General Certificate of Education or GCE was introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1951, replacing the older SC and HSC. It was intended to cater for the increased range of subjects available to pupils since the raising of the school leaving age from 14 to 15 in... The Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) was a former English school leaving qualification which was available along with the GCE O Levels between the period from 1965 to 1987. ... Secondary modern schools are a type of school in British educational systems, part of the Tripartite System. ... The Robbins Report was a British government-commissioned report into the future of higher education in the country. ... Oxbridge is a name used to refer to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest in the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world. ...


Grammar schools were largely abolished between 1965, with the issue of Circular 10/65, and the 1976 Education Act. Most were amalgamated with a number of other local schools, to form neighbourhood comprehensive schools. Some counties resisted the change, and 164 old-style state-run grammar schools exist today. A list of the areas where this applies is provided below. Direct Grant Grammar schools almost invariably severed their ties with the state sector, and became fully independent. Circular 10/65, also known as the Crosland Circular, was a document issued by the Ministry of Education requesting local authorities in England and Wales to begin converting their secondary schools to the Comprehensive System. ... A Comprehensive school is a type of school providing secondary level education in England or Wales. ...


Modern Grammar Schools

While many former grammar schools ceased to be selective, some of them retained the word ‘grammar’ in their name. Following the 1979 Education Act, selection on ability was once more allowed in choosing pupils for state schools. Since then, this option has gradually become more widely utilised. As a result, in much of Britain a grammar school is one with a strong academic reputation and able to select up to 10-25% of its intake. Grammar schools often perform well in league tables, and there is a high level of competition for places.


Since the election of the Labour government in 1997, there has been a gradual shift towards support for selection. Before the election, David Blunkett promised that there would be no selection under a Labour government. Once in office, local communities were given the right to ballot for an end to selection at schools. To date few ballots have been held, none of them achieving a majority for abolition. This measure has been attacked by the Select Committee for Education and Skills as being deliberately weak and intended to protect grammar schools from change. The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in England, Scotland and Wales. ... David Blunkett (born 6 June 1947) is a British Labour Party politician and has been Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside since 1987. ...


Since 1997 successive Education Secretaries have expressed support for an increase in selective education along the lines of old grammar schools. Specialist schools, advanced schools, beacon schools and similar initiatives have been proposed as ways of raising standards, either offering the chance to impose selection or recognizing the achievements of selective schools. Tony Blair has talked of an “escalator” system, and government education policy appears to accept the existence of some kind of hierarchy in secondary education.[2] In most assessments, grammar schools stand at the apex of any such structure. Grammar schools receive an average of £1000 per head more than other schools, leading to accusations of dividing and separating social classes, as middle-/upper-class families are more likely to send their children to grammar school or hire a private tutor to help them.[citation needed] The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government. ... The specialist schools programme is a UK government programme which encourages secondary schools to specialise in certain areas to boost acheivement. ... The Beacon schools programme was established in England in 1998. ...


Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland still maintains the grammar school system with most pupils being entered for the eleven Plus. There have however been moves to try and introduce a comprehensive system (as in England) by the direct rule administration. This is a matter of controversy with many politicians, particularly unionists, keen to preserve the grammar schools as they are with academic selection at the age of 11. The DUP ensured the continuation of the grammar school system in the Province as part of the St Andrews Agreement in October 2006. Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... The Eleven Plus is an examination which was given to students in their last year of primary education in the United Kingdom under the Tripartite System. ... The St Andrews Agreement is an agreement proposed by the British and Irish Governments in relation to devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly. ...


Surviving Grammar Schools

164 state-run grammar schools exist, spread between the following LEAs: A Local Education Authority (LEA) is the part of a council in England or Wales that is responsible for education within that councils jurisdiction. ...

Only some of these areas keep a formal grammar school system along the lines of the tripartite system. In others, they survive mainly as very highly selective schools in an otherwise comprehensive county: whereas in the tripartite system some 25% of 11 year olds had access to the Grammar schools, now it may be as low as 2% in some LEA areas. unga bunga This article is about the English city. ... Bournemouth is a large town and tourist resort, situated on the south coast of England. ... View from Cumberland Basin of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge Bristol (IPA: ) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London. ... Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is one of the home counties in South East England. ... Calderdale is a metropolitan district of the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England, through which the upper part of the Calder flows. ... Cumbria (IPA: ), is a shire county in the extreme North West of England. ... “Devonshire” redirects here. ... Essex is a county in the East of England. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... coat of Arms of Kent For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. ... Lancashire is a county in North West England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the east of England. ... Liverpool skyline. ... The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. ... The London Borough of Bexley is a London borough in south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. ... The London Borough of Bromley is a London Borough of outer southeast London, England. ... The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. ... The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is a London borough in south-west London. ... The London Borough of Sutton is a London borough in outer southwest London. ... The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough in North East London, England. ... Medway is the name given to a conurbation in the north of Kent, England. ... North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county, located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county in that region and also partly in North East England. ... Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... Plymouth is a city of 243,795 inhabitants (2001 census) in the south-west of England, or alternatively the West Country, and is situated within the traditional and ceremonial county of Devon at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and at the head of one of the world... Poole is a coastal town, port and tourist destination, situated on the shores of the English Channel, in the ceremonial county of Dorset in southern England. ... Reading is a town, unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) and urban area in the English county of Berkshire. ... For slough as a type of aquatic feature, see Slough (wetland). ... This page is about Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... Southend-on-Sea is a resort town in Essex, England. ... Telford and Wrekin is a unitary district with borough status in the West Midlands region of England. ... Torbay (IPA: ) is an east-facing bay, at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south-west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. ... The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. ... New Art Gallery Walsall The traditionl market of Walsall, a Tesco nearby has had an adverse effect on the market traders, many believe Walsall is an industrial town in the West Midlands of England. ... A detailed map Stratford-upon-Avon Kenilworth Castle Warwickshire (pronounced //, //, or //) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Wirral is a metropolitan borough in Merseyside, North West England, which occupies the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula, more commonly known as The Wirral. ... Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. ...


See also

Secondary education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Tripartite System, known colloquially as the grammar school system, was the structure by which Britains secondary education was organised between the 1944 Butler Education Act and 1976. ... The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary schools in England and Wales. ... The Eleven Plus is an examination which was given to students in their last year of primary education in the United Kingdom under the Tripartite System. ... A Comprehensive school is a type of school providing secondary level education in England or Wales. ... The Comprehensive System is a system of education in the United Kingdom and other countries, based on all-ability comprehensive schools. ... In the U.S. system of education, a magnet school is a public school which offers innovative courses, specialized training, etc. ... The list of schools in the United Kingdom is divided into several parts: List of schools in England List of schools in Wales List of schools in Scotland List of schools in Northern Ireland List of independent schools in the United Kingdom List of the oldest schools in the United...

External links

  • A general timeline of British education
  • Links on Elizabethan education
  • The situation of grammar schools today
  • National Grammar Schools Association
  • Support Kent Schools
  • An article on advanced schools and other advanced sections of the English secondary system.
  • Commentary by The Guardian about grammar schools today

  Results from FactBites:
 
United Kingdom - Printer-friendly - MSN Encarta (6270 words)
The United Kingdom is generally a prosperous, well-educated, and tolerant society, and ethnic differences have sparked relatively little violence and hostility.
The population density of the United Kingdom is one of the highest in Europe, exceeded by Netherlands and Belgium.
Grammar schools are university preparatory schools, most of which have been replaced by comprehensive schools catering to students of all academic abilities.
United Kingdom - MSN Encarta (2269 words)
Private schools that take pupils from the age of 7 to the age of 11, 12, or 13 are called preparatory schools.
Private schools that take older pupils from the age of 11, 12, or 13 to 18 or 19 are often referred to as public schools.
In Scotland, educational authorities are largely independent of those in the rest of the United Kingdom, although reforms, such as raising the age at which students may leave school, are similar.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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