National Grammar Schools Association
Encyclopedia
The National Grammar Schools Association is an organisation in the United Kingdom which campaigns for the promotion of selective education.
in 1965, issued by the Wilson Labour government
(grammar school-educated Wilson
sent both his sons to the independent University College School
), LEAs across the UK dismantled most grammar schools. However, many comprehensive areas have sixth form college
s (for many there is no other choice of school after 16) which are often in former grammar schools and usually have equally high standards as grammar schools at A level. The United Kingdom Independence Party
publicly supports selective education.
, to turn Northern Ireland comprehensive.
, notably in science, comprehensive school areas weight-for-weight do not generally produce comparative results with areas with grammar schools. This may be a chicken and egg situation, because areas with grammar schools have higher average house prices.
s in England and the 69 in Northern Ireland that are in existence. Two thirds of English LEA
s do not have grammar schools. It produces the publication called NGSA News. It seeks to prevent the few Labour-controlled LEAs that have grammar schools from taking them into the comprehensive system. The Chairman is the former Unionist MP for North Down
from 1995-2001.
History
It was formed in the 1970s. Following Circular 10/65Circular 10/65
Circular 10/65 is a Government circular issued in 1965 by the Department of Education and Science requesting Local Education Authorities in England and Wales to begin converting their secondary schools to the Comprehensive System. For most of England and Wales, it marked the abolition of the old...
in 1965, issued by the Wilson Labour government
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
(grammar school-educated Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
sent both his sons to the independent University College School
University College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
), LEAs across the UK dismantled most grammar schools. However, many comprehensive areas have sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
s (for many there is no other choice of school after 16) which are often in former grammar schools and usually have equally high standards as grammar schools at A level. The United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
publicly supports selective education.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland was not affected by the Circular 10/65, and has kept all its grammar schools. However there are current well-formed proposals, largely (if not solely) driven by Sinn FéinSinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, to turn Northern Ireland comprehensive.
Academic concerns of comprehensive schools
At GCSE, comprehensive schools, on the whole, are able to get children to an adequate standard, except for most inner cities. However at A levelGCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
, notably in science, comprehensive school areas weight-for-weight do not generally produce comparative results with areas with grammar schools. This may be a chicken and egg situation, because areas with grammar schools have higher average house prices.
Function
It represents the 164 grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s in England and the 69 in Northern Ireland that are in existence. Two thirds of English LEA
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
s do not have grammar schools. It produces the publication called NGSA News. It seeks to prevent the few Labour-controlled LEAs that have grammar schools from taking them into the comprehensive system. The Chairman is the former Unionist MP for North Down
North Down (UK Parliament constituency)
North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The current MP is Sylvia Hermon, elected as an Independent in the 2010 General Election. -Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the northern part of Down...
from 1995-2001.
See also
- Campaign for State EducationCampaign for State EducationCampaign for State Education is a pressure group in the United Kingdom that supports the comprehensive school system. The group have opposed private finance initiatives, the city academy programme and grammar schools....
- supports the comprehensive system - Campaign for Real EducationCampaign for Real EducationThe Campaign for Real Education, established 1987, is a pressure group in the United Kingdom. The groups campaigns to "press for higher standards and more parental choice in state education," and supports grammar schools...
- broadly supports the work of the NGSA