Graham Brady MP supports Conservative motion on grammar schools

10:51am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

Graham Brady, MP for Sale and Altrincham, has lent his support to a Trafford Conservative Group initiative which aims to make the borough’s grammar schools more inclusive Graham Brady, MP for Sale and Altrincham, has lent his support to a Trafford Conservative Group initiative which aims to make the borough’s grammar schools more inclusive

GRAHAM Brady, MP for Sale and Altrincham, has lent his support to a Trafford Conservative Group initiative which aims to make the borough’s grammar schools more inclusive.

Trafford Conservatives have submitted a motion ahead of Wednesday’s council meeting, asking all primary schools to familarise students with grammar school entrance papers. 

Leader of the council, Matt Colledge, said: “We have excellent grammar and high schools in Trafford but bright and capable children are missing out on grammar school places for the want of never having set eyes on a test paper. That can’t be right.”

He added: “Getting a place at a grammar school should not be based on the ability to pay for private schooling.”

Mr Brady said: “The admissions process should be as fair as possible to ensure that Trafford continues to offer the kind of opportunities for all that are too often lacking elsewhere.

“Local primary schools are also outstanding and I am delighted that Trafford Council is offering this support to schools in helping to ensure that children are familiar with the kind of tests that they might be taking for secondary school admission.”

Comments(10)

mms98 says...
12:02pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Why does it need a motion?

Surely a trip to W H Smiths or a look on Ebay would do?

Both sell test papers,books, cd's on the subject.

You can also buy pens and pencils as well from both places.

If your quick , I think W H Smiths in Altrincham is still open.

I'll start you off for free...

http://www.whsmith.c
o.uk/Products/Practi
se--Pass-11-Level-Th
ree-English-Practice
-Test-Papers-Level-3
-Coaching-You-Step-b
y-Step-Practise--Pas
s-11+Paperback+97818
44554270

or

http://www.ebay.co.u
k/itm/11-plus-TEST-P
APERS-MIX-NON-VERBAL
-MATHS-VERBAL-ENGLIS
H-Practice-Revision-
Bond-/170972380046?p
t=School_Textbooks_S
tudy_Guides&hash=ite
m27cebf7b8e

All without the use of expenses!!

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SaleTrafford says...
1:45pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Better still, make Trafford schools for Trafford Kids.

Sale Grammar is full of children from outside of Trafford. If there aren't enough spaces for Trafford kids, why open the doors to Manchester, Tameside and beyond?

Same goes for some of the primary schools.

I don't see the relevance of the comment “Getting a place at a grammar school should not be based on the ability to pay for private schooling.” It isn't, is it?

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Bob_Smith says...
3:47pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Past papers are readily available so state primaries and parents have no excuse. It's not a secret handshake that gets you into a grammar. It's hard work, discipline and a degree of coaching for exams.

It is almost criminal that Trafford catchment primaries don't coach kids for the grammars, I can only guess that is due to the loony left ethos of teaching to the lowest common denominator (Labour's take on the education system). The prep schools I know of do coach for the exams - why the difference?

Bizarrely though, some parents don't mind if their kids go to the local comp so it is the kids that are really missing out on what must be the greatest vehicle of social mobility left in this country.

Lastly, parents should not rely on the state education system to provide a first class education for their child. In many cases this won't happen and you'll get the bog standard education. You need to coach, get a tutor and do extra lessons at home. If you cannot be bothered with this then expect little Johnny's place to go to someone else because others ARE bothered.

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mms98 says...
4:39pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I think our leader stating that the pupils havn't seen a 11+ paper before and that is why they are not gaining a place has been mislead.

The main reason is because the grammar schools only want the best and dont care where they come from.

Macclesfield,lymm, bolton,bury...These are just some of the places where pupils live only to travel to Trafford for education

I agree with the statement that the Trafford grammar schools should be for Trafford residents.

But the grammar schools dont care,they only want the best kids, to make the figures look great and then the local councillors pipe up and say "wow, our grammar schools are fantastic"


It would be interesting to find out what the percentage of Trafford residents actually attend Trafford grammar schools?

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Most primary schools in Trafford already have the past papers and do a fantastic job encouraging pupils to attend the extra 11+ lessons that they put on and well done to them.

Surely the local MP and head of the council already know this?

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Bob_Smith says...
5:11pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Since the 11+ was scrapped kids in Trafford have a better chance of going to a grammar school because each grammar has it's own entrance exam only so you get a few bites of the cherry.

If you pass the exam then normal admissions criteria apply - most importantly distance from home to the school. The schools are open to any Trafford kid who passes the exam. If kids from Bolton are going then there must not be enough Trafford kids passing the exam which is a shame.

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SaleTrafford says...
6:07pm Tue 12 Mar 13

If only Trafford kids took the entrance exam then only the cream of the Trafford crop would gain admission. As it is, anybody from anywhere can take the exam, it's massively over subscribed, so they can take their pick of the highest grades. But that means the pass mark is that much higher than it could/should be meaning that you can live miles away but still be admitted ahead of a Trafford child.

OK, you may argue that they have a higher grade but there will be Grammar school 'able' Trafford kids who 'failed'. Their grade may have only been one point lower (note 1 point, which is much less than even 1 percent) than somebody living in for example Didsbury but they don't get the place.

With regards to tutoring, some kids are tutored specifically for the particular school's entrance exam. That's fine, it's the parents prerogative, but is that child capable enough? They may be able to pass the test but will they then be able to cope and prosper at a Grammar school. Some of course will, but many will not!

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Fuzzball says...
11:24am Thu 14 Mar 13

the article is misleading and yes I agree with what has been said before. Local schools for local people. My niece from Didsbury goes to Sale Grammar, its not right.

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farnie says...
3:03pm Fri 15 Mar 13

TRAFFORD SCHOOLS FOR TRAFFORD CHILDREN!

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farnie says...
3:04pm Fri 15 Mar 13

No bloody wonder the traffic is so bad if there are children being ferried in to 'use' our local schools!

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cllrrobchilton says...
2:49pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I agree, but unfortunately neither the Council or the schools are allowed to give priority to children for the sole reason of them living within the Borough, due to a High Court ruling over 20 years ago.

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