Comprehensive Future supports a fair and inclusive system of school admissions and an end to the use of the 11-plus test.
Inaccurate, unfair, inefficient and expensive, the 11-plus was abolished in most parts of England over 50 years ago. The test was phased out in the vast majority of the UK decades ago, yet this unfair system still affects around 19% of England’s schoolchildren. In 2024, it still causes stress, disruption and demoralisation in thousands of primary and secondary schools throughout England.
- Disadvantaged pupils are underrepresented in grammar schools: just 5% of grammar school pupils are on free school meals, while the average in non-selective schools is 23%.
- 92% of primary heads in selective areas believe the 11-plus negatively impacts pupil’s self-esteem when children fail the test.
- Research shows the 11-plus is inaccurate for around a third of the pupils it judges, stress or nerves can mean any child might have a bad day in a one-off test.
- A major study of 500,000 pupils in England showed “results from grammar schools are no better than expected” once social stratification (such as poverty, ethnicity, language, special educational needs) is taken into account.
It’s time to end this outdated test.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
HOW IT CAN BE DONE
Comprehensive Future is calling for all teacher associations, trade unions, local authorities, academy trusts and school governors to support a national inquiry into school admissions in order to establish fair and inclusive alternatives to 11-plus test, and to reform the School Admissions Code. We expect a review of school admissions to lead to a careful plan to phase out selection tests, saving 100,000 children a year from sitting the 11-plus.
SIGN THE CALL TO REVIEW SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS
Learn more about Comprehensive Future.