The revolt that means Trafford's schools are unlike anywhere else in the region

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The revolt that means Trafford's schools are unlike anywhere else in the region
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'We do not want comprehensive education at any price, in any form'

The M.E.N recently reported on the scale of demand for high school places in Trafford, the only Greater Manchester borough which still has a state grammar school system decided by the 11-plus exam. Here, the M.E.N's Damon Wilkinson writes about how Trafford came to be the only borough in our region which kept a selective school system which defined post-war Britain - but only survives in a few parts of the country today.

Opponents argued the system was elitist, entrenched privilege, damaged the children who failed the entrance exams and did nothing to drive up overall standards. But advocates of selection maintained it did improve the calibre of education and also promoted social mobility by providing bright students from modest backgrounds with a way to succeed.

At a heated council meeting three attempts to adopt the comprehensive system were voted down. Coun F. Eadie, quoted in the Stretford and Urmston Journal, summed up the Tory position. "The present system is just about on its last legs," he said. "The comprehensive system is not destroying the grammar school system; it opens it up to all children."

Refusing to bow to pressure from the Government and from their own teachers, the council adopted what The Times Educational Supplement described as an 'unyielding high-Tory approach'. In fact Altrincham Grammar School for Girls and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, were recently named the first and second best state secondary schools in the north west by the Sunday Times. But that quality means demand for places is fierce.

It's led to accusations of a two-tier education system. According to Comprehensive Future just 4% of pupils at Trafford grammar schools are classed as disadvantaged, compared with 22% in the non-selective schools.

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