ESSEX children taking the 11-plus exam should not be intensively tutored, according to the board that produces the annual test.

With more than three times as many pupils now applying for the available places at the county's eight grammar schools, there is added pressure on families to ensure their child is fully prepared to gain a coveted place.

Often the message spread among parents is that unless a child is privately tutored for at least a year, they will have no hope of gaining enough marks.

But the Consortium of Selective Education in Essex, the body that sets and administers the annual test, says otherwise.

Nicole Chapman, head teacher of Chelmsford County High School for Girls, who is this year's CSSE spokesman, says long-term coaching is counter-productive.

She told the Chronicle: "What we all agree as head teachers of grammar schools is that children should have familiarised themselves with the format of the paper, and been shown examples of previous years' tests, but intensive coaching is counter-productive in the sense that if they are simply trained to give a mechanical response to the questions they will not cope with grammar school."

Mrs Chapman recommends parents consult their child's teacher early on in their junior school career on whether he or she would be suitable for a grammar school

She said: "A child who is curious about the world; who wants to read books and newspapers; likes going to museums and finding out about the world: that is a grammar school child."

The 11-plus English and maths papers are written by Essex grammar school staff and checked by colleagues. The verbal reasoning paper is set by an outside company.

"We believe the papers should be rigorous enough to select the children who can manage the demanding curriculums at our schools."

Prior to joining Chelmsford County High four years ago, Mrs Chapman was a head teacher in Kent, where 25 per cent of children go to selective schools, and there is a grammar school in every major town.

"The signs are that there are far more people in Essex wanting to go to grammar schools than there are grammar school places," said Mrs Chapman.

"There is no doubt that parents would like more grammar school places in the county.

"However, my colleagues at the comprehensives would clearly challenge this because they want to keep the more able children in their schools.

"With 800 applicants for 120 places, inevitably there will be some children who are not here but should be.

"It is hard for those who just miss out on a place, but these academically capable children will do just as well at another school."

One major criticism of the two Chelmsford grammar schools is that they have no catchment area, so Essex pupils are competing for places with those from London boroughs and neighbouring counties such as Hertfordshire and Suffolk.

Mrs Chapman said the schools' admission policies have always been based on pupils who get the best results, but she does warn parents not to send their child to a school a long distance from home.

She said: "We expect parents and girls to be a part of the school community and if they cannot make it to before-school clubs or stay for activities after lessons or in the evenings, then there is a problem."