Opinion

ANALYSIS: Schools really really really want to cling on to their exams

The AQE test will now take place on February 27
The AQE test will now take place on February 27 The AQE test will now take place on February 27

IT is clear there are some grammar schools that really, really want their entrance exams to happen.

They appear to be clinging on in desperation, fearful that even a one-year postponement will bring everything crashing down.

After all, if schools can get by with non-academic admissions criteria in 2021, why not 2022, 2023 and beyond?

Children, parents, teachers and principals are all pretty far from OK with recent developments.

They were already stressed out enough by previous changes.

The assessments were originally due to start on November 7 before being delayed until November 21, then January 9.

This week they were confirmed as being on, off and on again.

The on again still depends on "public health circumstances", so there may yet be a further twist.

There were not many options left for AQE and the single test idea looks like a last roll of the dice.

Neither of the private test groups want to float the notion of asking primary schools to provide predicted grades.

Aside from being unworkable - as these assessments aren't anything like GCSEs and A-levels - it would spark outrage from teachers and principals.

Also, AQE uses scores instead of grades. Awarding A, B, C, D is a lot more straightforward than trying to decide which child gets, for argument's sake, 130 and who gets 129.

There is a further complication for the eight schools that award places to young people who sit either of the two separate assessments.

In a normal year, offers would be made after taking everyone's grades/scores and creating bands.

As things stand, there will be children seeking places in those schools whose assessment is cancelled and others who are being told theirs is going ahead.

Such schools may yet decide it is easier to opt out of AQE for a year rather than attempt to square this circle.

The old argument that ending selection would automatically lead to a postcode comprehensive system has been trotted out again.

This is more a fear than a certainty and suggests the schools are still fighting for survival above all else.

A grammar school without an entrance test is still a grammar school. It would not become any less desirable. It would still have the same name, same ethos, same buildings, same teachers, same subjects - its character would change little.

But even if a grammar school slowly becomes all-abilities, so what? Teachers in all schools are trained together and all use the same curriculum. No child in any school is studying integration by parts and metaphysical poetry from day one of Year 8. Postcode selection would also open up more educational opportunities for many inner city communities, which is a good thing, right?

Unless, the real motive is protecting the privileged.