KATE Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, spoke out about her concerns that last year’s entrance exam paper for Trafford grammar schools was used in other local authority areas on a different day.

This could mean some students could have heard about the questions in advance, giving some pupils an unfair advantage

Kate has been asking questions in parliament, and has written to the Secretary of State and the Trafford Grammar Schools’ CEM Consortium, to highlight this injustice.

Entrance exams for Trafford grammar schools take place in the early autumn term and are taken by children, many of whom are just ten years old, in year six.

Competition for places at grammar schools is fierce and children spend years preparing for their entrance exam, with some parents choosing to pay for tuition to try and help their children’s chances.

Kate said, “Preparing for the grammar school entrance exam can be a stressful time for local families. It’s shocking to learn that lack of exam paper confidentiality may have given some pupils an unfair advantage. If there isn’t a level playing field, then how on earth can these exams be relied on as a fair assessment of children’s ability? It undermines the hard work of pupils, parents and teachers. I’ve never made any secret of my opposition to selection at aged 11, but as long as we have a selective system, parents must have confidence that exam papers are secure and confidential. The system simply isn’t good enough’.