High-achieving disadvantaged students are far less likely to take and pass entrance exams for selective schools
Disadvantaged students are less likely than their more advantaged peers with similar attainment to take and pass entrance exams for selective schools, and introducing an opt-out system for the tests would only deliver a small boost.
A significant study published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education reveals that high-achieving disadvantaged students are far less likely to take and pass entrance exams for selective schools in England. Lead author Dr. Binwei Lu from Zhejiang University and Durham University highlighted that even among pupils with strong Key Stage 2 SATs scores, 84% of non-Free School Meal (FSM) students took the 11+ exam, compared to just 56% of FSM pupils.
The disadvantaged students who do attempt the exam are also less likely to succeed in securing a place at a selective grammar school. The researchers emphasized that addressing socioeconomic differences is crucial to making selective education more equitable, rather than merely tweaking the exam process.
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