from mailonline, 15th May 2010
The Daily Mail has reported that since 1997, under the labour government – a government opposed to academic selection – the number of children attending grammar schools has increased by 25%. The article reports that in this period “while no new grammars have been built, the country’s 164 selective schools have taken on new classrooms to accommodate extra pupils”.
The article goes on to state that 4.86% of secondary-aged pupils are now educated in grammars, an increase from 4.84% last year. In 1983 this figure was 3.1%
These figures suggest that an increasing number of parents are comfortable with academic selection, but the impact of the success of grammar schools, where they exist, may have a negative impact on their fee-charging counterparts. Indeed, through our independent schools research showcased in the Independent Education Sector Report 2010, mtm looked at what effect grammar schools had over independent school rolls and found that, “in those authorities where there is at least some selection (amongst state secondary schools), independent schools account for 6.4% of pupils aged 11+”. This figure compares with 9.7% in authorities with no selection.
The upshot of this observation is clear: grammar schools attract pupils not only away from their non-selective state alternatives, but also from independent senior options. (More details on this trend can be found in the article ‘Gove strives for ‘free’ schools but what impact on independents?’) However, it is notable that the presence of grammar schools in turn may benefit independent prep and junior providers.
A recent trend that has become increasingly apparent is that parents are picking and switching between state and independent sectors at a higher level, and seemingly with greater ease, than ever before (see: Parents pick and switch between sectors: What can school business strategies do?) It is therefore suggested that with an increasing demand for places at grammar schools, high performing independent prep schools will play a pivotal role, with shrewd parents enrolling their children into such schools in order to ensure a sound outcome at 11+ examinations.
mtm is the leading authority on education strategy, schools marketing and research for schools. To discuss how are services might help your school to enhance its positioning, please contact mtm.
