AS the Free Press publishes the 11-plus results for the first time, we examine some of the many concerns surrounding the system - and the release of these figures.

Buckinghamshire County Council was keen to point out that all schools should be keeping to a strict policy when it came to preparing pupils for the test, and should not themselves be a major factor.

Debbie Munday, admissions manager for BCC, said: "We try to take schools out of the equation. We ask the schools all to do the same exercises and it's not curriculum related, unlike SATs (Statutory Attainment Tests)."

She explained that measures could be taken against schools that gave additional 11-plus tuition. She said, however, that they could not police any coaching arranged by parents.

One headteacher, who did not wish to be named, was concerned about the release of the figures this week.

She said: "A lot of children here are on free school meals and are children from less affluent backgrounds.

"Schools don't teach the 11-plus and we're told by the county what familiarisation and practice we can do."

Dr Ian Scoones, secretary of Buckinghamshire Parents for Comprehensive Education, does not believe that grammar schools reflect the community.

He said: "The socio-economic make up of the children in the school determines the education.

"It's a question of social justice and social inclusion. All the evidence is clear that there is discrimination against people from poor backgrounds and ethnic backgrounds."

He thought a major factor was that children from affluent backgrounds could afford private tuition.

He referred to studies showing that fewer grammar school pupils are eligible for free school meals than those in non-grammar schools.

He was said that grammars could provide "free" education for children from outside the county - who would otherwise be in private schools.

But Stephen Nokes, headmaster of John Hampden Grammar School on Marlow Road, believed the system was healthy for Bucks. He said: "What we want to be about and try to be about is social mobility."

Mr Nokes said he thought the school intake made up a healthy cross section of the area.

He said: "We get a wide intake from lots of small schools in the area.

"Our catchment area is just under a 13-mile radius and our social intake is diverse."

Dominic Grieve, MP for Beaconsfield, thought that secondary schools in Bucks were very strong.

He said: "The overall package here is better than what's on offer elsewhere. Children who don't pass the 11-plus will get a very good education. Chalfont Community College is a great example of that."

He welcomed David Cameron's announcement in May that Bucks grammar schools were safe.

He said: "Many people are moving into the county primarily to benefit from the education system and our grammar schools are very close to actually being at full capacity.

"There are children who transfer to grammars at 13 or after GCSEs, and I would like to see that flexibility increase, but that can only happen with the confidence that Bucks has a grammar school system and that it will continue."

Roy Durrant, former headteacher of St Mary's CofE school in School Lane, Amersham thought there was too much focus on grammar schools.

He said: "We have got wonderful secondary schools here as well, and the parents round here are very lucky to have them."

Mr Durrant thought that extra tuition could lead to problems for students, who may struggle later on if privately coached through the 11-plus. He said: "Some parents seem to equate a good school with a grammar school, and yet it could be the worst school possible for some children."