Closed petition Stop plans to allow more secondary schools to select children by ability.

Closed on 15 March 2017

Selection harms children, divides communities and lowers overall attainment. The 11+ exam is inherently unfair - evidence shows that it selects on the basis of prior opportunity and social background. Poorer children, including high ability poor children, lose out most.

Children who fail the 11+ suffer a severe blow to their self-esteem and motivation at a critical time in their development.
Figures suggest that these children (70-80% of the total) go on to do worse at secondary modern than they would have at a comprehensive.
Selective areas have the largest achievement gaps in the country.
In fully selective Bucks, the 11+ pass rate for FSM children was 4% in 2014, compared to 20% for state pupils and 53% for private school pupils.