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Sevenoaks Grammar School Plan Approved By Tory Kent County Council

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 30/03/2012 13:11 Updated: 30/03/2012 13:11

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Sevenoaks Grammar
The controversial Sevenoaks grammar school plans have been approved (file picture)

Plans to open a new grammar school have been approved by the local Conservative council, despite the government banning academic selection in schools.

The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal, which saw 66 councillors support the plans, with one abstaining and three opposing.

The grammar, to be built in Sevenoaks, Kent, will form an annexe of two existing schools in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.

Campaigners insisted the school was necessary as many children from the area had to travel a round trip of 25 miles to reach their nearest grammar schools. A petition was signed by more than 2,600 people to create more places for pupils by creating a satellite school.

In an open letter to Kent County Council, parents argued: "This has a negative effect on their learning, on their opportunities for hobbies and sport, on their opportunities to develop friendships, and on the time they spend with their families."

Under government legislation, it is not possible to set up a new academically selective school but education secretary Michael Gove's relaxation of rules allowed existing schools to establish annexes if places were in high demand.

The decision will have been watched closely by counties such as Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Essex, who are among some of the regions to retain the divisive exam.

High profile education campaigners have spoken out against the grammar system, arguing the 11-plus divides children according to academic ability at too young an age.

Education campaigner Melissa Benn, a staunch supporter of comprehensives, which she says has become a "dirty word", said: "Education is more than just exams. The idea of defining children by ability when they're so young is terribly unimaginative.

"By the time an 11-year-old passes school they have already been put into races, into little boxes. In comprehensives there is not such a concern about definition. Exams kill your love of learning."

The school will cater for around 120 children who pass the 11-plus and will be the first new grammar for 50 years.

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pepekitch
33 Fans
 
08:20 AM on 03/31/2012
A grammer school and comp school teach the same level,GCSE and A level,what the outcomes of each school are different.The chlid as to be able to achieve the level needed to go to university,so that tells me they have to have the ability to learn,if it is not there then it does not matter how much a parent or child, student,wants to go to university,somethings are just unatainable,that said what is wrong is just because you have money buying your childrens education having left school to go to higher education,which is often talked about,is wrong.We cannot all be interlectuals,but we must help ALL KIDS WHAT EVER BACKGROUND,SOCIAL,FINANCIAL to achieve to the best of their ability.There is a lot to be said for making a life for yourself, that is less academic,more vocational,Standing on your own two feet in life is what matters.Teach kids to the best of their ability,if teachers could do that then they know they have done thier job and say i taught him her all they should know at this stage in their schooling.What does amaze me is how do kids leave school unable to read or write? don't teaches notice them,or is the ability just not there.
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KenInd
We too shall get through this.....
1334 Fans
10:35 AM on 03/31/2012
OK, I agree on a level playing field here. Equal opportunities and so on. Fine.

BUT: how do you expect a child whose parents are not behind the school, or who do not read to their kids when young, or who challenge any attempt by the school to teach their kids what it means to be positive....how do you level that playing field? The major difference between independent schools, grammar schools and high-flying 'post code' comprehensives is down to one thing: the environment (not necessarily financial or materialistic) in which the child is raised. The former list of school types generally have kids with parents who are ambitious. We all know people from the most challenging homes who have gone on to great schools and university because the family unit made that a key goal. There are always exceptions, but until you can get the family to back the child, and value a quality education, no amount of money or facilities will level the playing field. And believe me; there are a ,lot of kids from the most privileged of families who lack this familial support. A lot.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pepekitch
33 Fans
 
11:43 AM on 03/31/2012
My point really is,the ability as to be there in the first place,no amount of been positve,supportive parents,can put brains there,at the end of the day the student sits the exams on thier own.Doing well in life does not only mean you have to go to university,Children who have no support from parents can and do, do well'.Sometimes that saying monkey see monkey do' does not always ring true.Having opportunities in life and expectations in my opinion should be welcome,as not everyone does have this in their life and even them that does dont always take it,I know lots of people who are satisfied with thier job lot,that said i know a lot who wish they had the brains to do better.
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MsBubblyBlonde
Sassy,brassy,kiss my assy.
178 Fans
08:07 AM on 03/31/2012
Everyone goes on about the lower class children.What about the talented children whose talents are quashed due to lack of encouragement and class mates that can't understand English?Concentrate of the children that actually want to make something of their future.IF you are allowing your child to be badly educated,then what does that say about you as a parent?
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KenInd
We too shall get through this.....
1334 Fans
10:40 AM on 03/31/2012
I live is a town of 11,000 in which there are no options short of a boarding school. The kids go to local primary and middle schools; then are bused 9 miles away to the nearest and only comprehensive (the next on is 22 miles away). This secondary school is the second lowest in GCSE/A level results in the county. You have to accept it. From 2013 the county is changing to a two tier system; the local middle school will disappear and from the age of 11 every child will spend 90 minutes a day being bused to a school that will absorb two middle schools and rise to over 2500 pupils 11-18 on a site that is not being made larger. OK, it has a great sports centre; but the facilities are not impressive, and our kids will lose local identity. Parents have no choice but to accept this.

Does that make them bad parents?
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
10:08 PM on 03/30/2012
What's wrong with giving people what they want, it's just an envy thing?
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KenInd
We too shall get through this.....
1334 Fans
10:41 AM on 03/31/2012
The problem isn't what you give them (I prefer 'offer'); it is what they choose to do with it that matters.
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
10:53 AM on 03/31/2012
I haven't heard of any grammar school kids leaving school without being able to read and write, have you?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Laatab
All The Worlds A Stage
66 Fans
07:00 PM on 03/30/2012
The only trouble with grammar schools is they tend to pour out a lot mediochre middle class none entities who whilst they tend to do well in the world at large are dyfunctionaly unaware of the reality surrounding them. I can think of three people who typify the successfuly conditioned subjects of privileged education off the top of my secondary modern head. Cameron, Clegg and Miliband.
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KenInd
We too shall get through this.....
1334 Fans
10:42 AM on 03/31/2012
Parliament really is an extension of the Senior Common Room.
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Johnowen
78 Fans
12:23 PM on 03/31/2012
This comment is so true
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oldpo
2 Fans
04:22 PM on 03/30/2012
This stupid notion that Grammar schools are for the wealthy is ridiculous. I have three children, went to Smiths, bought the study guides and worked like hell with my kids to give them a chance. Two got in, one didn't (no, he hasn't got hang-ups - he's successful in his own choice of career). It has been the best money and time I have ever spent.The books cost less than a packet of cigarettes. When I did the 11+ myself (and failed) all schools coached all children to take the test. It was only when the 11+ was stopped that people had to use their own money and their own initiative. Had we maintained the system, everyone - regardless of wealth - had a chance. It was the only form of test which was not selective by WEALTH. Private schools are for the wealthy and there's nothing wrong with that either - people are only choosing how to spend their money after paying tax etc. Instead we have this 'chip on the shoulder' mentality of 'bring everyone down to the lowest level'. The difference in teachers' appearance, professionalism and interest when going to a Grammar School Parents' evening or a Comprehensive Parents' Evening was immense, that was when the Comprehensive teachers bothered to turn up! At least half of the Comprehensive teachers need sacking.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
crumpets
62 Fans
03:48 PM on 03/30/2012
I worked my backside off from the age of 9 to get into good schools, get into grammar school, get good grades at GCSE and A levels and then get into a good university. I'm 25 and still working hard to finish off my second degree.

As far as I'm concerned we should have no time for people who take the ridiculous attitude that everyone is the same and that no one should be separated by ability/hard work. Why is it fair on those kids who work incredibly hard and make sacrifices to be lumped in with kids who are thick/don't want to work?

I'm tired of people who think that everyone is the same and that they are entitled to things. You are not entitled to anything but what you earn. Life is a meritocracy and grammar schools are a reflection of that. Long live grammar schools in the UK.
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KenInd
We too shall get through this.....
1334 Fans
10:48 AM on 03/31/2012
I live in a part of the UK where one town has two grammar schools, as does the town next to it (all are single sex). My town and another one nearby have two comps; one in each town is rated as high (in exam results) as the grammars; the other schools are rated quite low. You can imagine the difference in housing prices between one school's catchment area and the other (in fact. local estate agents quite openly post this fact if the catchment area is the 'better' school. The good news is that these schools have now paired their senior admin teams with the goal of raising standards and sharing facilities and ensuring that some lessons and activities are paired, which has raised standards somewhat.

Grammar school entry is based on exam results; high achieving comps is based on relative wealth. Both are not 'fair', but in my area the latter seems to be making a concerted effort to reach across the divide and help each other.

There is little need for private schools, by the way, in this area.
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eastlondon
51 Fans
02:39 PM on 03/30/2012
Fantastic news Hooray the best bit of education news for a long time. I come from a council slum all my family got into local Grammar schools I was the last year before abolition of the 11+. We all had great education, are all happy and got the jobs we wanted .You cannot teach different abilities together even the comprehensives recognise this hence streaming
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scouse55
132 Fans
02:20 PM on 03/30/2012
Despite the professional data that shows they are elitist and overall not as good as comprehensive education, which came into being simply because Grammars were generally failing the bulk of the youngsters.

So it will be back to the 11 plus regime, where those with spare cash will once again be employing tutors, (usually the very same teachers from the grammars), doing a bit on the side, cash in hand, to ensure their kids will be advantaged over the less well off, who may be,and often are, far more intelligent but shunted in to less well endowed schooling, so that the elitist principle is sustained, and promoted, at the expense of comprehensive education.

Worse still is the fact, this will be done at the taxpayers expense, whether it is wanted by the taxpayer or not.
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eastlondon
51 Fans
02:47 PM on 03/30/2012
typical chippy scouser wants to drag everyone down to his level. Well this taxpayer does want it so do most parents that is why they move to be close to a decent school. Why tutors whats wrong with spending some time with your own kid and teaching them? So comprehensives are working are they? look at the cabinet and shadow cabinet all public school in the old days at least a working class kid had a chance through the grammar school system, even in Thatchers cabinet you had grammar school kids.
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Brightening
135 Fans
02:11 PM on 03/30/2012
Grammar schools are not a good idea. It means they are going to abandon pupils with lower abilities and only concentrate on the brightest pupils to help them get the best jobs.
Seems quite right wing really and it creates a lot of division.
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eastlondon
51 Fans
02:48 PM on 03/30/2012
Better that we are all fick innit then we can all be on the dole togevver bruv
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rm28157
0 Fans
03:14 PM on 03/30/2012
Quite the reverse I would think - Those with ability go to the Grammer school, thus lowering the class size in the non grammer schools resulting in the teachers in both schools being able give more/better individual attention to their pupils.
This anti grammer school attitude is more a case of inverse snobbery mainly, but not exclusively, championed by the Labour party who seem determined to seek the lowest common denominator rather than aspiring to the highest common factor.
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PiersB
0 Fans
04:42 PM on 03/30/2012
Although as one from a comprehensive background at least I know that the highest common factor will be lower than the lowest common denominator.
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