CHILDREN taking selection exams for Skipton's grammar schools will sit four exams in future.

But the "border zone" has been abolished in a move which the county council claims will make the procedures less stressful and fairer.

Another change sees new tests being used every year instead of old tests being "recycled" - a move which was criticised as open to abuse as it could allow children to practise on papers which were used in the exams.

Papers will also be multiple choice in future.

The changes follow a consultation paper sent to parents of all children at primary and secondary schools in the Skipton and Ripon areas.

A total of 1,112 responses were received from the 8,635 copies distributed and there was overwhelming support for "double testing".

In the past, all pupils sat one paper of verbal reasoning and one paper of non-verbal reasoning questions. Those just missing out in the border zone were offered a second set of tests and from that the top 28 per cent of pupils were offered places at a grammar school.

Now all children will sit two papers of verbal and two of non-verbal reasoning, with the child's best result from each being used to determine the successful 28 per cent. The border zone will be scrapped.

The idea is to ensure that all children are given an equal opportunity to pass the exam, and eliminate the pressure on border zone pupils asked to take a second test.

Eighty four per cent of the respondents voted in favour of double testing but there was a majority against making the papers multiple choice (48 per cent against, 40 per cent for, 12 per cent no preference).

A proposal to bus all the children to one central location for the tests was rejected after parents voted in favour of continuing to test in the primary schools.

The lack of a suitable site in Skipton to accommodate all pupils in the area and the cost of transporting children to one site was also a factor in rejecting central testing.

County Coun Shelagh Marshall, who sat on the committee which made the changes, said the new procedures were fairer and should eliminate worries about pupils sitting papers which they had already practised upon.

"Coaching will always take place but there were some strong rumours that certain schools or individuals had photocopied the papers and then used them year in, year out," she said.

The new system will mean a big increase in the cost of administering selection tests, particularly in the purchase of new papers. The new system will cost £93,000 a year compared to £51,000 if no changes had been made.

County Coun Tim Cole, vice-chairman of the committee, said: "This is a brilliant example of parent power. I'm delighted that the concerns of parents and pupils have been recognised.

"Testing of any kind is always stressful for those involved but the new system should minimise the children's stress and create a fairer, more transparent process."

The changes come into effect for this year's selection exams.