SECONDARY MODERN PLANS
When most schools (all but 2 in Kirklees) are seeing their budgets cut, the Conservative Government can find money for their plans to recreate Secondary Modern Schools for 80% of pupils. In conjunction with their plans to create more "Faith" schools, schools with a reason for existence to promote division within society.The only selective state school in Kirklees is Heckmondwike Grammar School. In the 60's 30% of pupils in the catchment area went to the school, 70% going to the two secondary moderns in the area, this was always a high ratio as most Grammar Schools didn't like to admit pupils outside of the top 20%.
In the 60's places at the Grammar School were allocated by the primary feeder schools, and all pupils (theoretically) had a chance of being selected. Now entrance is by examination set by the school and parents put their children up for the examination. Affluent parents send their children for special tutoring to pass the exam. The school in its striving position in the league tables has cast its net over a wider and wider area. No longer satisfied from attracting pupils from Kirklees, it now has large numbers of pupils from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and even Barnsley. Obviously the parents tend to be better off, being able to afford the travelling costs. An interesting aside is that 50% of the pupils are now from the ethnic minorities, is that a comment on their abilities or the admirable ambition of their parents.The school is no longer Heckmondwike Grammar School it is now "The Grammar School in Heckmondwike"
