Everything about Grammar Schools totally explained
A
grammar school is a
school that may, depending on regional usage as exemplified below, provide either
secondary education or, a much less common usage,
primary education (also known as "
elementary"). Grammar schools trace their origins back to
medieval Europe, as schools in which university preparatory subjects, such as
Latin and
Greek, were emphasized.
Origins
The original intent of the
medieval grammar schools was to educate the young in the
grammar of
Latin. Later the
curriculum was considerably broadened to include other languages, such as
Greek,
Hebrew,
English and
European languages, as well as the
natural sciences,
mathematics,
history,
geography and other subjects. These schools were highly revered.
Australia
In
Australia, "grammar schools" are generally high-cost
Anglican Church of Australia schools,
public schools in the sense of the
Associated Public Schools of Victoria and the
Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria. Those using the term "grammar" in their title are often the oldest Anglican school in their area. Examples of these include such schools as
Camberwell Grammar School (1886),
Caulfield Grammar School (1881),
Geelong Grammar School (1855) and
Melbourne Grammar School (1858). The equivalent of the English grammar schools are
selective schools.
Canada
In
Ontario, until 1870, a grammar school referred to a
secondary school.
Hong Kong
In
Hong Kong, grammar schools are secondary schools primarily offering a traditional curriculum (rather than
vocational subjects).
Republic of Ireland
Education in the
Republic of Ireland, has been mainly organised on
denominational lines. Grammar schools along the lines of those in Great Britain were set up for members of the
Church of Ireland prior to its
disestablishment in 1871. Some schools remain, as private schools catering largely for Protestant students. These are often fee-paying and accommodate boarders, given the scattered nature of the Protestant population in much of Ireland. Such schools include those in
Bandon,
Drogheda (run by
Quakers since 1956),
Dundalk and
Sligo. Others are among the many former fee-paying schools which have been absorbed into larger state-funded Community Schools, Community Colleges, and Comprehensive Schools, founded since the introduction of universal secondary education in the Republic by minister
Donagh O'Malley in September 1967. Examples include
Cork Grammar School, replaced by Ashton Comprehensive School.
United Kingdom
By the late medieval period in Britain there were many schools teaching Latin grammar. In England the
Tudor King
Edward VI reorganised these schools or instituted new ones so that there was a national system of "free grammar schools" that were in theory open to all and offered free tuition to those who couldn't afford to pay fees. The vast majority of poor children didn't attend these schools since their labour was economically valuable to their families.
In the late
Victorian period grammar schools were reorganised and their curriculum was modernised, although Latin was still taught.
The
Tripartite System was established in
England and Wales by the
Education Act 1944, and in
Northern Ireland by the
Education (Northern Ireland) Act 1947. This defined the grammar school as the place of education for the academically gifted (with entrance determined by a selection exam; initially this was the "Scholarship" exam, which was later replaced by a "Grading Test" which was then subsequently replaced by the 11+ exam). Children who didn't pass the selection test attended
technical schools or
secondary modern schools. The system became
controversial in the post-war years. Critics condemned it as being elitist and defenders claimed that grammar schools allow pupils to obtain a good education through merit rather than through family income. In the mid-1960s the then Labour Government tried to restrict or abolish grammar schools by requiring local authorities to introduce
comprehensive schools. Following this, some grammar schools became fully independent and charged fees, while still usually retaining "grammar school" in their title. However, many grammar schools continue to be state run, and now have locally administered selection tests for entrance.
The Government run 11 plus selection exam has now been abolished in the UK, and no longer do all children sit for it as used to be the case. However, voluntary selection tests are still conducted in certain areas of the UK, where some of the original grammar schools have been retained. These areas include:
Northern Ireland and some English counties and districts including
Devon,
Dorset,
Kent,
Buckinghamshire,
Essex,
Birmingham,
Trafford,
Wiltshire,
North Yorkshire,
Calderdale,
Kirklees,
Wirral,
Warwickshire,
Gloucestershire,
Lincolnshire and some
London boroughs such as
Bexley,
Kingston-upon-Thames and
Redbridge. There have been various so far unsuccessful attempts by campaigners to accomplish the abolition of all remaining grammar schools. The remaining grammar schools are now thus still selective, typically taking the top 10-25% of those from the local catchment area. Some of the still-existing grammar schools in the United Kingdom can trace their history back to earlier than the
16th century.
United States
In the United States, the term has often been used as a synonym for
elementary school, although this usage is significantly in decline. However, mention of "grammar school" frequently appears on job applications.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Grammar Schools'.
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