I am curious about your mention of a 13+ examination, Ian. What was that - I have never heard of it before, and we are probably in the same age range?

Hi Stefen, In those days you got a second chance at Grammar School entrance at 13. Don't remember the details - it was a long time ago, but think it was more restrictive than the 11+ and a pass depended on Teacher recommendation. Anyway there were only a few of us that went to Varndean Boys at age 13 in 1956. Roy Peters and Keith Ely are two I remember well.

It does not seem as if the 13plus was universal, as I have met a lot of people who have not heard of it. I took it back in 56/57 in Stoke on Trent. The exam itself was of a similar format to the 11plus. The big difference was the oral exam that one had to undergo at the school you wished to attend. I remember sitting there surrounded by 3 or 4 teachers throwing questions at me. Of the 5 of us who had passed the exam at the same Secondary School, only two of us were accepted. The others had to carry on at the Secondary.

Hi Ian. I think I remember you. I went to Varndean in 1956, in Mr Bristow's class, 3-39. I passed the 13+ from Stanmer Secondary Modern School. The main challenge was French year three as we had learnt Spanish at Stanmer. I've never recovered from that stress and have avoided learning languages most of my life. But I had to learn Swahili as we were missionaries in Kenya for 16 years. I have a couple of photos from the early 1960s at Varndean. Best wishes.