Letters
Grammar schools
Sir: In your leading article (2 October) you argue for the reintroduction of grammar schools in Solihull. In theory this is fine, but in practice Solihull's proposals are not for grammar schools as generally known. Entrance is to be restricted to 10-15 per cent of the pupils, to be selected by IQ tests in the final three years at primary school — this is likely to produce far more questionable results than the old 11 plus. Pupils from the north of the borough, where most of the poorer families live, are to be excluded and, further, there is to be no sixth form. Thus I contend that the description `grammar school' is a misnomer.
Arden was chosen as a possible grammar school because of its outstanding '0' level results in the last few years, When Solihull had grammar schools Arden was a second- ary modern with comparatively poor -results. The improvement came with a new headmaster and had little to do with being in a more affluent area of Solihull. A proportion of the more able children are in any case 'creamed off' to the local public and independent schools.
Solihull should either reintroduce grammar schools available to all the more intelligent children of the borough with entrance examinations and sixth forms — an essential part of grammar school life — and/or find out why Arden (and Tudor Grange) are so much better than the other schools — the answer is almost certainly discipline and streaming — and endeavour to bring all schools to the same high standard.
I should declare a direct interest in that I have a daughter at Arden and a son in his final year at primary school.
David B. Ward
Marloes, 23 Avenue Road, Dorridge, Solihull
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