IN AN attempt to stamp out extensive tutoring, grammar schools in the county have changed this year’s entrance exam.

After months of preparation, hundreds of pupils have taken the entrance exam on Saturday to get into one of seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire.

This year, however, marked the first time pupils took a brand new test, which has been developed by the Centre for Evaluating and Monitoring (CEM) at the University of Durham.

CEM is one of the largest independent providers of educational assessment and monitoring systems in the world. They have been developing selection assessments since 1999 and provide tests for a number of grammar schools in other counties.

The seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire, including Marling School and Stroud High School, made a joint decision in December last year to change the test in order to make it fairer for children who come from working-class backgrounds and cannot afford extra tutoring sessions.

CEM design its tests to enable all children to demonstrate their academic potential without excessive preparation and do not produce commercially-available practice materials.

Marling School headteacher Stuart Wilson said: “We wanted to offer a test that was as fair and as accessible as possible for all students.

“CEM advise that the best preparation for the test is to work hard at primary school, read widely and practise mathematics.”

Stroud High School headteacher Mark McShane said: “We were delighted to welcome over 300 girls to Stroud High School on Saturday to sit the new test.

“Tests are never easy but we had an experienced team of staff and current students on site to make the process as enjoyable as possible.”