Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Kent grammar school among ‘least inclusive in the country’
A Kent school is one of the least inclusive grammars in the country, latest figures reveal.
Data obtained by the BBC shows just one school in England has admitted a lower proportion of disadvantaged children than Tonbridge Grammar since 2009. Just 2% of its youngsters are entitled to pupil premium, funding given to improve poorer students’ education. Almost a quarter of boys and girls across the county are eligible for the scheme - but not a single selective school in the Garden of England matched the average over the last 14 years.
The findings also show less than one in 20 children at seven Kent grammars were from deprived backgrounds. Campaigner Joanne Bartley says “inequality is baked into the system”, as some selective schools “give no priority” to poorer youngsters.
The activist, who chairs Kent Education Network, said: “Some grammars here are making efforts by adapting their admission policies to admit more poorer kids. “But a few of those schools have set very low quotas. “Tonbridge Grammar School prioritises 10 places out of 180 for disadvantaged pupils, while The Judd school offers just five free school meals places out of 180. “Some of the county’s grammars are worse and don’t do anything - seven give no priority to children from poorer backgrounds at all.” Fears selective schools have become a realm for the better-off have prompted a government review into making them more inclusive. About 70% of children over the age of 11 in Kent attend comprehensives, but evidence suggests they achieve worse GCSE results than youngsters living in areas that have no grammars.
Ms Bartley says the likes of Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and Chatham & Clarendon in Ramsgate are attempting to redress the balance, as they lower entry requirements for those unable to afford tutoring. “Sadly the main problem is deprived children are already lagging behind at school at the age of 10 when they take the Kent Test,” she added. “There is inequality baked into a school system that divides pupils with a test that most disadvantaged pupils are likely to fail. “Wealthier children with settled homes and well-educated parents able to pay for tutors will always be more likely to fill grammar schools. “Poorer children with more troubled family backgrounds and no cash are disadvantaged by this system.
“It’s quite shocking that we allow a social divide to develop at secondary schools in Kent, while most areas offer no school admission test and avoid this altogether.” Only 11 of the 37 grammars in Kent use a system that allows them to prioritise
places for youngsters on free school meals.
At The Judd in Tonbridge just 3% of children are entitled to pupil premium. The Skinners’ School in Tunbridge Wells had the third lowest proportion. However, it has recently lowered entry requirements in a bid to reach a level where 10% of pupils come from deprived
households.
Its head teacher, Edward Wesson, said: “In the past four years we have doubled the number of pupil premium students at the school.
“In lower years the number is considerably higher than the 4% quoted.
“This is because we have established a pupil premium quota for entry to Year 7 by giving those children a preference in terms of the score they have to obtain in the 11+. “We have also done some work with primary schools to support their work in science, maths and English.
“In addition, we work closely with AIM, a local charity that supports deprived children in their preparation for the 11+.” At the other end of the spectrum, Dartford Grammar School for Girls was the most inclusive with 21% of students eligible for pupil premium. The secondary allocates
places to children from poorer backgrounds first - an approach that appears to be working.
Head teacher Sharon Pritchard explained: “We believe in the potential of education to change lives and are committed to our aim of raising aspirations and maximising life chances for all students.
“Since September 2017, our admissions policy has therefore prioritised pupil premium students and they achieve extremely well with us. We are proud that 21% of students are pupil premium and we hope that this number may continue to increase in the future.”
Ms Pritchard also says recent progress for her disadvantaged pupils have been “exceptional”.
Tonbridge Grammar School did not respond to a request for comment.
‘There is inequality baked into a school system that divides pupils with a test that most disadvantaged pupils are likely to fail...’