Disdavantaged pupils could be offered the opportunity to sit the 11-plus exam at a later date to give them time to catch-up on content missed during school closures, according to grammar school headteachers.
Plans to help pupils who will sit the test in September for admission to grammar schools next year are being negotiated after heads expressed concern about the potential impact of school closures on disadvantaged pupils.
They also include test providers reducing the content of the tests to make sure topics which would normally have been covered during school closures is removed, according to Mark Fenton, chair of the Grammar School Heads Association.
Exclusive: Grammar schools’ ‘insult’ to teachers as sixth-formers coach 11-plus
Read: Grammar schools ‘are revolutionary for disadvantaged pupils’
Exclusive: 700 pupils get grammar places without passing 11+
He said online support had been stepped up using a series of video lessons which cover the types of material commonly found in selection tests in order to “demystify the process and build the confidence of disadvantaged children”.
He said: “Grammar School Heads are certainly concerned about the potential impact of extended school closures on disadvantaged Year 5 children; we want to do everything possible to make sure that the success in increasing the number of disadvantaged children admitted to grammar schools is sustained this year.
However, campaigners at anti-selection group Comprehensive Future said some pupils were only being given an extra week before they sat the test later this year, and that pupils with “Zoom 11-plus tutors” would be at an advantage.
A spokesperson said: “There’s some really strong leadership in Northern Ireland with grammars doing away with the test this year.
“How can some grammar schools think the test is too unfair to use this year, while others are pretending its business as usual?”
The DfE says arrangements for selecting pupils by ability are ultimately for admission authorities of selective schools to decide.
A DfE spokesperson said: “We are aware that selective schools are considering what changes may be needed to their admission arrangements in light of COVID-19. We are working at speed with the sector and will provide advice in the coming weeks.”
