Kentish Express Ashford & District
Survey shows some heads are against new grammar plans
Government plans to allow new grammar schools are opposed by many head teachers in the county, according to a survey.
The survey was commissioned by the campaign group Kent Education Network, which opposes school selection and the 11-plus.
It says the findings reveal unease among head teachers over the expansion plan, even though just under 100 took part – a response rate of less than 10% – and most who did were primary heads.
According to the research, conducted by the education thinktank LKMco for KEN, 69% of respondents disagree with the government’s expansion plans.
Of those who responded to a series of questions about the 11-plus, 96% felt that tutoring had an impact on pass rates, with 64% saying it had a significant impact on the outcome.
In other findings, 92% of heads in selective areas said failing the 11-plus could negatively impact children’s self-esteem.
About half said grammar schools had a negative impact on social mobility.
The survey tested opinion in the three largest selective education authorities: Kent, Lincolnshire and Buckinghamshire.
Joanne Bartley, chairman of KEN, said: “As the government seems intent on expanding grammar schools, we thought it useful to survey head teachers in selective areas to seek their experiences of working under a selective system.
“These heads know how the 11-plus impacts their pupils and have their own insights into the ways secondary schools are changed by the presence of grammar schools.”
The survey’s findings come as Kent County Council says a recommendation the authority offer less well-off parents help with transport to and from grammar school could cost £500,000 and be vulnerable to fraud.
The idea was a key recommendation to come from a cross-party group of county councillors that examined ways grammar schools could improve social mobility.
The investigation concluded that transport costs were among factors that dissuaded some from applying for grammar places.
However, a report due to be discussed by councillors this week casts doubt on the idea.
Education chiefs says there is no budget to help subsidise transport costs to grammar schools for children who do not qualify for it under existing arrangements because they are on free school meals but would do if it was extended to those eligible for “pupil premium” money.
The report added: “There is no established way to ‘means test’ families seeking this support and its implementation...could expose KCC to significant risk of fraud. KCC does not have the means to police applications.”
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