grammar school
Quick Summary
In Great Britain, a grammar school is a type of secondary school that offers an academic curriculum designed to prepare students for university entrance and professional careers. Historically, these schools emphasized subjects like Latin and Greek.12
Before 1902, publicly funded secondary education was limited. Students pursuing education beyond primary school attended either privately endowed grammar schools or public schools. The Education Act of 1902 introduced publicly funded grammar schools and provided aid to existing ones.1
Following World War II, the Education Act of 1944 aimed to standardize education, requiring secondary education for all and eliminating school fees in state-maintained schools. This led to a tripartite system: grammar schools for academically gifted students, secondary modern schools for others, and technical schools. However, this system proved rigid, and many comprehensive schools, which combine elements of all three, have since been established, though respected grammar schools still exist.31
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