Our research also assessed whether pupils who get in to grammars are more engaged at school, have higher aspirations or self-esteem, or better mental health. the MCS was essential in pakistan rcs data allowing us to measure these outcomes, and to ensure that we compared pupils who are as similar as possible, besides attending a grammar. We found no such benefits of attending a grammar.
Theresa May famously said that education researchers could have “all the evidence in the world” that grammar schools do not work, but she still wouldn’t change her mind.
Fortunately, the public seem to be more interested in the evidence. This research has been covered by the Times (paywall), the Telegraph, the Independent and the Guardian, as well as the Today Programme, Any Questions and the recent BBC2 programme.
Quantifying the impact of research is notoriously difficult. But the quality of the MCS data means that we the electorate now know much more about the likelihood of grammar schools bringing about May’s Great Meritocracy.