The Old Bostonian Association

A Better Selection

Failing the 11-plus is no longer a barrier to going to grammar school. The four secondary schools in Boston have announced a 'unique' accelerated learning scheme to allow the most able pupils from St Bede's and Haven High to transfer to Boston High School and Boston Grammar School.

From September 2002 children who are not offered a place at one of the selective schools but who scored highly in the selection tests will be guaranteed a place on the programme at Haven High or St Bede's.

Providing they make sufficient progress, a place at one of the selective schools will then be offered.

Current pupils at St Bede's or Haven High will have the chance to transfer to the programme at a later date.

Haven High head teacher Madeleine Fox was extremely enthusiastic about the project. She said: "The secondary schools in Boston felt the competitive environment did not help pupils and that the 11-plus can be traumatic.”

"We are now building on the benefits of working in partnership with each other through the accelerated education programme rather than competing."

Details of the proposed scheme, which began in September 2002, have been sent to parents of pupils at the schools. Those wanting their children to take part in the scheme are advised to enter their child for the selection procedures in the normal way.

When asked about the potential disruption moving children from higher years would cause Mrs Fox was confident this would not be a problem. She said: "The curriculum all schools follow is taught to national guidelines.

"We are starting the new scheme in September so next year's year seven will be one of the first to participate."

This new partnership builds on the joint technology college at Boston Grammar School and Haven High and all four head teachers are looking forward to the arrangement.

Boston Grammar School head teacher John Neal said: "This is a unique scheme. All the secondary schools working together will only serve to complement each other."

Boston Standard


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Updated 21 February, 2005