A HEADTEACHER says everyone in education wants to find the most transparent and least coachable form of entrance exam for grammar schools.

Dr Peter Holding from Sir William Borlase's Grammar School in Marlow said there is widespread awareness of the amount of coaching for the 11 plus that goes on.

Buckinghamshire County Council's Education chief Cllr Mike Appleyard recently indicated alternatives may be looked at to avoid families unable to pay for private lessons being disadvantaged.

Yet, a recent Bucks Free Press online poll found only 39 per cent of readers would want the 11 plus scrapped.

Dr Holding told the Free Press: “My understanding so far is nobody has come up with an exam which is better than we have currently got.

“I certainly would want to commit myself to finding the most effective, most fair, most transparent and least coachable form of assessment for the 11plus that's something we all want to see achieved.

“Certainly some of our parents have made it very clear they went in for a great deal of coaching. “How big a difference it makes is a matter of debate.

“I think, personally, it is ultimately potentially counterproductive because if you coach someone and then they are placed in what's not possibly the right environment it's not in their best interests.”

In October the last maintained non-foundation grammar school became an academy, meaning responsibility for the 11 plus and selection process now rests with them, not the council.

Cllr Appleyard said: "As a result, any future review of the 11+ test would be undertaken by the grammar Academies.

“It is possible that, if the type of test is reviewed, the potential impact of coaching might be considered alongside other issues. However, it is important to stress that the Headteachers recognise that this is a sensitive and complex area of education policy and they are committed to continued partnership working with parents and with BCC.

"BCC has never supported the practice of coaching for the 11+ test and has striven to ensure, through the provision of the familiarisation and practice tests, that children who do not receive coaching are not disadvantaged.”

There is little that can be done to prevent coaching if parents are intent on it, he admitted.

He said: “Any future review of the 11plus test would be well researched and would investigate whether an alternative form of test could offer a demonstrably more accurate way of selecting children for different types of school.

“In any such evaluation, one of the factors to be considered might well be the level of resistance offered by any test to excessive coaching.”

The immediate priority is for continuity for the 2012 admissions round, he added.

What do you think of the current exam system? Do you believe a review is necessary and what ideas do you have for alternatives? Leave your comments below.