Primary Schools mid 20th Century

a suburban primary
school classrooms free school milk absenteeism from
school teachers' favourites the 11-plus exam May Day at school

The 11-plus exam, the 'scholarship'
in 1940s Britain

A 21st century photograph of what was Edgware Primary School, courtesy of Tony Woods.

In my last year at Edgware Primary School, we children had to sit for what was known as the 'scholarship', later known as the '11 plus exam'. It was also offered to all the children throughout the county. The outcome determined whether their next school would be a grammar school or a secondary modern school.

The class teacher who prepared us children for the scholarship at Edgware Primary School was a man, a Mr Perrett, who was wonderful at his job. I don't know whether he was back from the war or whether he had reason never to have been called up for service.

However, it was standard practice for more wealthy families to pay for private tuition for their children in order to get them into a grammar school.

Under Mr Perrett's care, I was awarded the class prize for progress - even though as far as I was concerned I didn't do anything differently. I suppose that he was interesting and logical, and just made work a matter of course. I also passed the scholarship to Copthall County Grammar School, the best grammar school in the area. I never had private tuition.

I wish I knew what happened to Mr Perrett, as I would like to thank him. At the time, children take their teachers for granted, although a good teacher can influence a child's entire life for the better. I'm sure what happened to me, both at Edgware Primary School and afterwards at my grammar school.

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