Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Who remembers the 11+?

I failed mine by like 8 points but I didn't mind cos I later found out you had to go to wirral grammar, when I thought you could choose. I just wanted to see if I could pass it really but I've got friends who went to wirral grammar and they're in no better position than me and I'm still where I expected I'd be right now so it's all good!

I'm in favour of the 11 plus providing that it's a proper test of intelligence.

The original 11 plus was based on IQ tests. These have long since been discredited. An example of a question from the old days was:
"What is the next letter in this sequence; OTTFFS ?"

The answer is S. The sequence being One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six.

I went to a bog standard comprehensive by the way and I'm educated to postgrad level in Engineering. Or what accounts for Engineering these days, which is mostly Management. Waste of time really.

And I know a right druggy thickhead who went to Wirral Grammar so they didn't all turn out good.

Yeah that's what ours was like, the one I couldn't get the hang of was where they put some letters, then a multiple choice of groups of letters and you had to choose the one to fit the question to make a word. So it'd be like:
1. muple
a. nic
b. lti
c. age
or something like that

I was there from 1990-96 RIP Gordon Youd.

I enjoyed Wirral Grammar for the most part, but during the 80's, bullying wasn't something you could go and report. My Mum only found out recently that I was bullied for the first 3 years there. After that I became the "class clown" and they eased off a bit. At the time it was hell, but now I could happily thank them as they've made me the relatively strong person I am today.

Just for the record, we didn't have any tutoring to pass it in those days - you either passed or you didn't.

I passed it but can't remember it, but it was in the 50's. The headmistress, Miss Gee, told my folks that I "hadn't even been trying", whatever that meant, probably that it was more by error than judgement. Unfortunately I wasted the BI by joining up early but the education has always stood me in good stead so I'm always grateful for that, it did me no harm. I think they should bring them back and if not then bring all schools up to the same level, which is probably impossible because of the attitudes of some pupils now. The Chinese and Indian kids make a show of us.

That could be a nice bit of research - What Happened Next : Failing/Passing the 11+ : 50 Years On.

I passed the 11+ and went to Wirral Grammar School, though most of my junior school friends failed it, so passing it was not all it was cracked up to be.
Grammar school also meant we had to wear a rubbish blazer too!

I wouldn't attempt to either justify or condemn the old 11+ system. I guess it had its pros and cons. However, for many years I've considered it was unfair to girls.

I took the exam in 1956 and in those days the primary school I attended had each year split into equally sized "A" and "B" classes. Nobody in the "B" class ever passed the 11+. Practically all the boys in the "A" class passed but only a handful of girls. I've always believed this was simply due to the lower number of girls grammar schools in the area.

Incidentally - I was a boy and passed the exam.

i passed in 1958 at cathcart street,went to the archives and found my name in the head teachers log book and in the birkenhead news,made up with that.only 9 passed in that year.something to be happy with.

I passed it and went to Wirral Grammar in the 80's I'm wondering If I know Wench lol

My daughter will be sitting the 11+ next year. We've been touring schools this year.

The system as we understand it is different to how dizdazdoz describes it. You choose three schools. The schools do not know what order you put them in. Each school has their own selection criteria and uses that to process your child. Some are based on ability, some are based on distance and some favour special needs, some seem to favour kids stong in say sciences..

If a school requires an 11+ pass you sit the exam. It's optional in that you can choose a none 11+ school. Incidently, some private/semi private schools also have their own entrance exam so you can apply to schools with out using the LEA or 11+. (Upton Hall for example. So you can apply to more than 3 schools via this back door.

So if a school has an entry of say 150 (5 classes of 30) and your child is ranked by their systema as 79, they get offered a place. if you are ranked 155, they do not. So a child may meet teh criteria of all three schools or only one. The LEA then collate the offers and offer you a school based on you preferences. I think if you have more than one offer you can choose.

What is crazy is that the parents have to go to the open days, check out and choose a school and apply in 3 weeks. There is no way to make an informed choice int hat time. So we started a year early and have it down to 4 or 5 schools. 3 definates and 2 not sures. i.e. ones we want tolike but something is stopping us.

The old "O" level system was crap. I got "O" levels in Woodwork & Science. Could I get a job as a nuclear carpenter? Could I buggery!!

I remember the 11+, sat it in 1945, on receiving a pass I was to go to Rock Ferry High, shortly before attending the next term I was told that it was to be Birkenhead Park High, which was a lot further from my home in Tranmere, I also sat an exam at Birkenhead School for a free place, didn't get to go there, still I enjoyed my time at Park High, on leaving was employed as an apprentice, then on completion of that was called up for National Service, which was spent mostly in Malaya.

Your memory is correct. That IS what happened.

Not always, originally there was a 3 way outcome .... Grammar School, Secondary Modern School (often called "High Schools") or a Technical School.