Outrage as maths exam is dropped

ANGRY parents and tutors are fuming after changes to the 11 plus exam could disadvantage Asian youngsters from getting a place at grammar schools.

Slough’s Consortium of Grammar School, which includes Herschel, Langley and St Bernard’s, has decided to drop the maths tests from the exam in November.
Instead children will be tested on their non verbal reasoning, which identifies science and maths skills, and verbal reasoning which includes English.
The decision was announced on Friday and has caused outrage amongst parents.
A tutor, who does not want to be named, added: “It will disadvantage Asian youngsters or any second language speakers.

Slough mum Shada Khan, whose 10-year-old daughter is about to sit the exam this year, said: “I was shocked when I heard the news.
“I am worried my daughter may not get through because her strong subject is maths, which is what we’ve always pushed her in.
"Most Asian children are in the same position and it makes me wonder why the schools are doing this – are they trying to stop Asians from getting in the grammar schools?”
“Many children from this background often have problems with their literacy as many parents have English as their second language.

“This can hamper a child’s chances in the English test as they cannot always seek the help they might need at home.
“That is why having the maths test was so important and a good indication of a child’s overall ability. As these grammar schools do not have a catchment area, this may also mean more children from outside Slough will get in at the expense of our youngsters and that is not fair.”
However, Slough Grammar School is not in the consortium and will continue to test youngsters’ maths skills during the 11 plus exam. This means children who want to get into Slough Grammar will have to sit the 11 plus exam twice to meet the school’s entry standards and many parents fear this will put a lot of unnecessary stress on their youngsters.

Margaret Lenton, headteacher at Slough Grammar School, added: “We sought widespread advice and felt maths was an important element of the tests that was needed to test the students in our area.”
A statement from the consortium added: “The non verbal reasoning test specifically identifies ability towards science, engineering and mathematics, The test also helps to identify high ability in pupils where English is not their first language.
“As a result the mathematics test has been dropped and the non verbal reasoning test will be made slightly longer.”