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Grammar School Test Changes: Tutoring Dilemma Remains
7 Jun
Summary
- New grammar school tests aim to reduce tutoring pressure.
- Parents feel obligated to tutor children for competitive entry.
- Concerns persist about competition from outside the county.
Starting in 2027, Gloucestershire's seven grammar schools will implement a new, more accessible testing system designed to align with the national curriculum and reduce the emphasis on intensive private tutoring. This change aims to create a more equitable environment for prospective students.
Parents acknowledge the proposed changes are a step in the right direction but express ongoing concerns about the pressure to tutor their children. Many feel a moral dilemma, believing that not tutoring would put their child at a disadvantage in the competitive admissions process. The new tests will exclude non-verbal reasoning questions, typically a focus of tutoring, and will be administered in the summer of Year 5 instead of September of Year 6.
Further considerations include the impact of competition from students outside of Gloucestershire, with some parents suggesting a temporary restriction on out-of-county admissions. The ultimate long-term solution, according to some, lies in improving the standard of all state secondary education to diminish the need for selective grammar schools.
