Did you go to a Secondary Modern?

[valmarg]

When I took the 11+, apart from the grammar/high schools and secondary moderns there were technical high schools. They taught skills such as shorthand and typing for girls. (not entirely sure what the equivalent was for boys,)

valmarg

[Hilary B]

VC, I was taking O levels in 1969, and there were certainly grades then, 1-6 were a pass, 7-9 were fail. (but that was 'Oxford Board' there were others, presumably managed by other Universities, which used letters for grading).