One of the few Catholic grammar schools aims to prove that selective education can promote social mobility

The school: St Anselm’s College is a Catholic grammar school and academy for over 900 boys aged 11 to 18 in the Wirral in the Diocese of Shrewsbury, under the trusteeship of the Christian Brothers and maintained by the Department for Education. It is part of the Edmund Rice Trust. It has high academic standards and in 2014 achieved the best A level results for a boys’ sixth form in Wirral. It focuses on inclusivity, even though it is selective.

Top marks: Some 12 per cent of St Anselm’s students receive free school meals (a high percentage for a grammar school) and it encourages applicants from across its large catchment area – which covers a number of deprived areas – by visiting and fostering relationships with inner-city primary schools. Its entrance exam – unlike the 11+ – focuses on subjects like English and maths, so that children without tutors do not miss out.