11 Plus Exams Forum

This may be an unpopular view but I am a firm believer that our grammars should select from a catchment area, and just wondered if anyone else had any thoughts on this subject?

I think there should be a limit to how far you live from said grammar. It does seem unfair that you can live out of the county and still be able to go to the school. Maybe there should be catchment areas, as a lot of grammars are in the middle of council estates and being as grammars were set up with the intention of giving children from a less fortunate background a chance of having a decent education, they would go back to what they were intended for!

So what happens to thos children who do not have grammar school in "their" area?

faitaccompli wrote:So what happens to thos children who do not have grammar school in "their" area?

... and their catchment comprehensive is in special measures!

This is currently being debated in the Surrey section

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 30&t=23491" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There should definitely be a catchment area. Children going to Pate's from Bristol and Worcester, to Stroud from Swindon etc. How's that right? Grammars don't mind, of course. The wider they can throw their nets, the larger the pool they can choose from and the higher the calibre of the students they will select. Don't hold your breath if you're hoping for change.

If you have catchments it will not 'solve the problem' - it will merely be the same as the best non selective schools and push up the house prices close to the school, thereby making sure that fewer still less well off people can attend.

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It works fairly well in Bucks - one qualifcation score across all GS and you can choose whichever schools you want on your CAF. However places are allocated on distance from the school.

I live in Worcestershire, only just, the county border is one mile away, our postal address is Gloucestershire, and I must say that I am so glad that there is no catchment area for Pates as my two DC went there and we have no Grammar Schools in Worcestershire.

I see no valid reason for catchment areas, the children who get in to the Grammars deserve the places, my two had to work hard to get there and work hard during their education, it shouldn't matter where they live. We take them every day, and that is our responsibility, and a commitment we made to them.


If people who live closer wish their children to go to a Grammar, they have the option to sit them for the test, just as we did, I really can't understand why anyone should have an advantage because of their address.