Re: 11+ How was it decided?

On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:44:51 +0100, "confusedcom"
<confusedcom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Many years ago, back in 1967 I took the 11+.

I was told at school I had passed the test . I was not supposed to pass the
test and I was told I would have to take more tests in school to see if I
could go to grammar school.

We all sort of knew that the only ones who would pass these tests were those
in one class who had been taught differently and taught together four years.
It had always been the case. I was not in that group.
Everyone in that class passed the tests and went off to Grammar School.

I was sent to SM. When I got to school I remember one of the teachers
looking at me and saying - you have an IQ of 143. I didn't know what he
meant and ignored him.

I have since found out that the 11+ was supposed to select out the top 20%
of IQ scores and send them to Grammar School ( it was on the TV - That'll
Teach 'um).
I have tried to look up what IQ score was regarded as the pass score . I
know it must be above 115 but less than 120 as far as I can work out.

But the scores also show that my IQ score of 147 is in the top 5%.

So, why did I get sent to SM?

I always wondered but no one could ever explain it to me. Seeing these
programmes has made me wonder again.
I was in the top three in my class at junior school. I could read and write
well. I wasn't a problem in any way, that is I didn't mess around and was
not naughty. All my reports show I got A's and B's in all subjects and the
teacher said I was good. I got as good marks as those in the top class who
did go to grammar school . I did better than nearly all of them in those
tests.

So why did I pass the 11+ with such a high score and then get sent to an
SM?

You were thought of as not middle class enough. Grammar schools are
class based, using tests that are meant to sort children according to
class and culture rather than ability. In your case, the 11+ obviously
didn't do its job proberly and you passed it, so they had to use extra
tests to make sure they got the "right" result.

I'l now retire to a safe distance.
--

Alex

-Herefore I art
.

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