By 1986, approximately what proportion of secondary students attended comprehensives?

By 1986, approximately what proportion of secondary students attended comprehensives?

• A. 50%
• B. 60%
• C. 90%
• D. 70%

Answer: (C)

The question tests how widely the comprehensive system had been adopted in Britain by the mid-1980s. Comprehensive schools were created to replace selective grammar schools and to provide non‑selective, mixed-ability education for all secondary students. After being introduced in the late 1950s and expanding through the 1960s and 1970s, the trend was to convert local authorities to the comprehensive model. By 1986, about nine-tenths of secondary pupils were in comprehensives, meaning roughly 90 percent attended non‑selective secondary schools. The remaining minority still attended areas with grammar schools or other traditional arrangements, but the overall pattern shows that comprehensives had become the dominant form of secondary education. This reflects the policy aim of reducing social stratification by ability and broadening access to secondary education for all students.

The question tests how widely the comprehensive system had been adopted in Britain by the mid-1980s. Comprehensive schools were created to replace selective grammar schools and to provide non‑selective, mixed-ability education for all secondary students. After being introduced in the late 1950s and expanding through the 1960s and 1970s, the trend was to convert local authorities to the comprehensive model. By 1986, about nine-tenths of secondary pupils were in comprehensives, meaning roughly 90 percent attended non‑selective secondary schools. The remaining minority still attended areas with grammar schools or other traditional arrangements, but the overall pattern shows that comprehensives had become the dominant form of secondary education. This reflects the policy aim of reducing social stratification by ability and broadening access to secondary education for all students.