Schools in Kent and Surrey disclosed that they raised tens of thousands of pounds, as critics believe the wealthy are capable of taking advantage of it.
English state grammar schools are raising funds by charging up to £70 for kids to take “familiarisation tests” before the entrance exams, which critics say allows wealthy families to “buy advantage.”
Grammar schools in Surrey and Kent raised tens of thousands of pounds yearly through mock exams, which were created to prepare students for the 11+ exams needed to win a spot at the most sought-after selective schools.
According to an anti-selective school group Comprehensive Future and Schools Week investigation, the schools were using the funds to pay for laptops, drama studios, and facilities such as cricket nets.
Some schools offered free places for children who qualified for free, while others claimed to only subside “limited” numbers. One provided only 5% of its tested areas to children from disadvantaged families.
Grammar schools in England accept few students qualified for free school meals, with kids from rich backgrounds capable of gaining from private tutors and coaching.
Nuala Burgess, the chair of Comprehensive Future, stated that the fundraising aims to profit from parents’ anxiety. Burgess said, “The selling of mock 11-plus tests is nothing short of a money-spinning racket. It offers the well-heeled yet another way to buy advantage and ensures that the poor and disadvantaged are kept out of grammar schools.”
Sometimes, the paid-for tests are administered by a private company, which then donates the funds to the grammar schools’ parent fundraising groups.
A private company linked to Sutton Grammar School’s parent-teacher association (PTA) provided the mock exams for £40 online or £60 in person. The school stated that places were subsidized for students on free school meals and students in its outreach program for local primary schools.
Reports disclosed that SGSPTA Ltd gifted the PTA over £153,000 in 2021-2022.
Wallington County Grammar School provided mock exams through its parent’s group for £45. The headteacher, Jamie Bean, stated that the tests assisted “pupils familiarise themselves with school entrance tests, and free places are provided for those from disadvantaged backgrounds”.”
In 2022-2023, the parent group at Wilson’s school in Wallington charged £50 for the two-and-a-half-hour sessions administered by volunteers, including mock exams in maths and English, generating almost £53,000.
Bexley’s Townley Grammer School parents’ group started offering a test prepared by a private company for £70, using the “same procedure and instructions” as the school’s entrance exams.
The school stated that free places were made available for students receiving the pupil premium, a government grant for underprivileged children.
The school’s spokesperson stated that the group’s “decision to offer familiarisation tests was driven by a desire to support social mobility and raise funds for additional support programmes, particularly benefiting disadvantaged students”.
A former Kent grammar school headteacher, Peter Read, was “appalled” to hear of the mock tests being charged. He told Schools Week, “This is a way schools are making money out of parents who want to be considered.”
