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The 11-plus, Latin and Greek, unequal opportunities, the cane - is the passing of these a matter of regret or celebration? John Catlow takes a brief look at how some aspects of secondary school education have changed since the 1950s
For pupils not selected for grammar school, the good technical colleges and secondary modern schools offer plenty of opportunities, but the higher flights of academe are not expected. However, many of these schools are less than satisfactory.
Radical selection at this early age produces serious casualties. Many late developers who fail the 11-plus and subsequently seek an academic future find they have a mountain to climb.
To devise an exam that is accessible to most students and still has academic rigour is no easy matter, and there have been inevitable losses. However, the gains in increasing educational opportunities for huge numbers of pupils have been substantial. O-levels may have been more academic, but did little to engage and develop creativity. This is where today's 16-year-olds are showing their potential in exciting ways.
In recent years, A-levels have been replaced by AS-levels. Some of these can be studied for only one year, thus making it possible for more subjects to be taken.
It wasn't only the curriculum that was different in schools of the 1950s and those of today. There's also little similarity in what pupils wore to school and carried around with them.
Check out these games to find out just how much things have changed.
Dress the boy or girl in 1950s' or present-day school uniform. When you think you've got it right, click CONFIRM. To start again, click RESET.
Sort the belongings, dragging the 1950s' items to the school satchel and the modern ones to the rucksack.
You will need the Flash player 6 plug-in to play the games.