Northern Ireland

Grammar school expansion fund will not improve children's outcomes, study says

The study found grammar school pupils were unlikely to achieve more academically by the age of 14
The study found grammar school pupils were unlikely to achieve more academically by the age of 14 The study found grammar school pupils were unlikely to achieve more academically by the age of 14

GRAMMAR school pupils are unlikely to achieve more academically by the age of 14 than those who do not attend the selective schools, a study has suggested.

Researchers also said attending a grammar school had no positive impact on a teenager's self-esteem or their aspirations for the future.

The study, by the UCL Institute of Education, comes weeks after the UK government announced controversial plans to pump £50 million into creating more places at grammar schools.

Those who led the research say the results indicate the cash should be directed elsewhere.

Professor John Jerrim, lead author of the study, said: "Our findings suggest that the money the government is planning to spend on grammar school expansion is unlikely to bring benefits for young people.

"Even those children who are likely to fill these new places are unlikely to be happier, more engaged at school or have higher levels of academic achievement by the end of Year 9."

Co-author Sam Sims added: "Schools across the country are already hard-pressed financially. Our research suggests that the Government would be better off directing their money towards areas of existing need, rather than expanding grammar schools."

Researchers analysed data from 883 children in England and 733 children in Northern Ireland who had similar academic achievements at primary school and came from families with similar incomes and education levels.

They looked at the results of tests taken in English, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning at the ages of three, five, seven and 11, as well as a vocabulary test at the age of 14, and compared results from those who went on to attend a grammar school and those who did not.

Children were also given a series of questionnaires at the ages of 11 and 14 to gauge their thoughts on mental health, engagement at school, well-being and interaction with peers.

Josh Hillman, director of education at the Nuffield Foundation, which funded the study, said: "These findings are important because they show for the first time the impact of attending grammar schools on a wide range of outcomes, such as young people's self-confidence, academic self-esteem and aspirations for the future.

"The evidence shows that at age 14, there is no benefit to young people of attending grammar school in these respects.

"In addition, we know from previous evidence from this study that the use of private tutoring heavily skews access to grammar schools in favour of wealthier families, dispelling the myth that they increase social mobility.

"In light of this evidence, it is increasingly difficult to understand the government's rationale for spending money on expanding selective education rather than on improving education for all young people."

When the grammar school funding was announced earlier this month, Education Secretary Damian Hinds said the government wanted to "make sure every family can access a good school".

He added: "By creating new schools where they are needed most and helping all great schools to grow, we can give parents greater choice in looking at schools that are right for their family - and give children of all backgrounds access to a world-class education."

But school leaders criticised the decision, saying they were "disappointed" that the government was spending "scarce funding" on expanding grammars, and warned the move could be "damaging" to social mobility.

Previous research from UCL found a strong association between family income and grammar school attendance in Northern Ireland.

Children from high-income families were 33 percentage points more likely to attend a grammar school than low-income children of equal academic ability.

Former education minister Peter Weir lifted a ban on 11-plus coaching in school – a move criticised by teachers and rival politicians as “immature” and “out of step”.

Schools had earlier been warned against distorting the curriculum by facilitating unregulated tests “in any way”.

Grammar schools continue to run their own unofficial entrance exams. The last state-sponsored 11-plus was held in November 2008.