The Grammar School - A Secret History is a short BBC Four Series that uses ex Grammar School pupils to recount some of their personal experiences about their time as grammar school pupils. The aim of the British grammar school system was to give talented and able children the best education possible however humble their background. In general the grammar school greatly benefitted the pupils who went through its doors, in fact five British Prime Ministers went through this education system. 

However The Grammar School A Secret History on BBC Four also examines the other side of the schools’ long lasting effects. Although the Grammar Schools excelled at their job for the lucky few, for those who did not pass the 11+ an exam taken when you were 11 years old, the school gates were firmly shut forever.

One woman said “I have no recollections of which questions I got right but I have forever of the ones I got wrong.” Of course, there were people who did well without going to Grammar School but the final irony of its history came when those politicians who had benefitted most from this system , were the ones who closed it down. Although The Grammar School A Secret History was never really a secret, the insights given by ex pupils are secrets in so far as these questions have never been asked before. Watch The Grammar School A Secret History via youriplayer.co.uk and decide for yourself whether this education system helped or hindered ordinary people.

Watch all episodes of The Grammar School here. The Grammar School is a tv-programme of BBC One. You can see all episodes of The Grammar School here via Youriplayer.co.uk.