I went to RAF Hornchurch as a grammar school boy in April, 1955, at 16 and a couple of months, for what was then termed "Pre-Assessment".
This was to give a young chap some idea of whether he would be successful for a DEC or not, for Flying Scholarship or University Cadetship. It also served to help a lad to decide whether to go for a Direct Entry Commission at 17½ or, having maybe failed to impress, to go ahead with 'A' Levels and University application. I remember the educational criteria for Pilot/Navigator at that time was only 5 'O' Levels.
The only thing that sticks out in my mind, although I was successful, was how much better at everything the guys who'd been at boarding school were at that age !
Last edited by Sleeve Wing; 27th Feb 2023 at 09:59.