Late development between the ages of 11 and 14

Abstract

The thesis is concerned with pupils who on the evidence available at 11+ are rightly refused entry to a grammar school, but subsequently prove capable of profiting academically from education in such a school. Some recent researches are examined, and it is concluded that claims for highly successful prognosis at 11+ are not fully borne out by the evidence presented. An investigation in a boys' grammar school is reported. Over three years, this school admitted 10% of the age group at; 11 + , and a further 4% from the 12+ - 14+ age groups. Selection at 11+ was made on the basis of three equally weighted Moray House tests, but were not used for final selection. The failure rate for 11+ entrants, judged by third form results, is 25%, the same as for the late entrants. Among the latter were 32 who fell below the lower limit of a borderzone designed to include 95% of those whose true totals in the selection examination might have been equal to the pass mark. The failure rate for these sub-border-zone late entrants is also 25%, and some are judged to be potential university entrants. The successful sub-borderzone late entrants are numerically equal to 12% of the 11+ intake. Some of the most successful would still not have been admitted at 11+ even if the primary school assessments had been used in the selection procedure. This, with the average (uncorrected) 11+ - 14+ correlation for normal entrants of 0.355, emphasises the need for transfer facilities from secondary modern schools in the area. It is suggested that in the area concerned a verbal weakness, later remedied, is a common cause of the failure at 11+ of pupils who subsequently succeed in the grammar school.