(updated 7 August 2011)
Maidstone Grammar School has introduced complex oversubscription arrangements that give priority to boys scoring a total of over 390 in the Kent tests, living in named parishes. Details here. These include a band of villages, together with Maidstone stretching from Smarden to Stansted, and from Bredhurst to Staplehurst, together with Tenterden and West Peckham, but excluding East Peckham. It is unlikely that all children in the second category will be offered places, and I see little point in applying if you don’t live in a named parish. Some 50 11+ qualified boys were turned away 2009 and there were few successful appeals. For 2010 there were just 18 appeals, of which six were successful.
As parents know Kent test scores before applications are made, it is clearly important that those scoring less than 390 should include Oakwood Park Grammar on their list. I anticipated that within two years there will be considerable polarising, with the ablest boys across this wide area heading for Maidstone Grammar, although this does not appear to be happening at present and the others (including all boys from East Peckham), applying for Oakwood. 36 qualified first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. Seven successful appeals, mainly boys who had passed the 11+.
For 2010 entry, places were offered to high scorers living up to a distance of 14.30 miles away from the school (101 boys). Other boys who passed the test and in previous years would have been offered a place, had to live within 4.99 miles of the school (50 boys). The remaining places were offered to siblings. 35 first choices oversubscribed for 2011 entry.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls Oversubscribed. Outstanding OFSTED. 18 qualified first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. Number of girls in Maidstone has fallen, so pressure on both grammar schools has eased. Just one qualified girl who placed them first was turned down for 2011 entry in March 2011. By the time of the appeals there were just 167 places accepted. At Group Appeal hearing, Headteacher indicated 5 more places could be managed on top of the 175 Planned Admission Number. A total of 15 were admitted on appeal.
Maplesdon Noakes School Maidstone. Usually heavily oversubscribed. Popularity fallen for 2010 with just 27 first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. OFSTED June 2010. School judged to be good. Numbers fell again for September 2011 entry, but still 17 first choices oversubscribed.
Marlowe Academy, Ramsgate. This is Kent’s longest established Academy, situated in Ramsgate, fitting all the criteria: failing school, social deprivation, urban area. It is now in new surroundings, but academic results still reflect the socio economic make up of the area. See an HMI Monitoring Report written April 2009. This shows both improvement on the 2008 OFSTED Report, but also some way to go. For 2007 entry the Academy was heavily oversubscribed damaging the prospects of the neighbouring Hereson Boys’ and Ellington Girls’ Schools. For 2008 entry, numbers fell away sharply, and the school had over 50 spare places at the beginning of March 2009, before children who had not applied were allocated places there. The key Sponsor is Roger de Haan.
OFSTED October 2010: Found the school was failing and served it with 'Notice to Improve'. The Academy is described as: The Marlowe Academy is similar in size to most secondary schools. One in ten students, an average proportion, speaks English as an additional language. The largest group of students are of White British heritage. In the main academy, the proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is just over twice the national average. In the sixth form, almost three quarters are in receipt of the educational maintenance allowance. The proportion of students who join the academy at other than the usual times is much higher than that found nationally. Almost half of all students, a proportion that is much higher than that found nationally, have special educational needs and/ or disabilities. These are mainly moderate learning difficulties and behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties. The academy has specialist performing arts and business enterprise status and, since the previous inspection, it has gained the prestigious Food for Life Partnership Award. The Marlowe Innovation Centre was built on the academy site, with the support of the sponsor, and opened in 2008. The centre hosts just over 25 local businesses, and provides work-related opportunities for students as does the radio station, Academy FM. In September 2007, the trustees invited the current principal to support the leadership of a neighbouring academy that was without a principal while simultaneously continuing his role at The Marlowe. Since September 2010, the principal resumed fully his responsibilities at The Marlowe.
The OFSTED comments include:The Marlowe Academy faces exceptionally challenging circumstances exacerbated by high levels of student mobility and illness of senior staff that has led to restructuring. Both have had a significant impact on students' attainment. Over the last three years, the attainment of students in GCSE examinations at the end of Year 11 in English and mathematics has been low. Performance in vocational subjects has been closer to the national average. Progress and learning in lessons are beginning to improve, as is students' enjoyment of learning. There has not been time for recent initiatives to be reflected in significant rises in students' attainment in English and mathematics and, as a result, students' achievement is still inadequate. Students who join the academy at unexpected times are well supported, and make progress that is broadly similar to their peers.The main reason for students' slow progress is that the quality of teaching and learning are too variable. Some good teaching and learning were seen, for example, in art and the performing arts. In these specialist areas, students make satisfactory progress and attain average standards. Too often, however, work in lessons does not adequately match students' needs and interests. Teachers do not consistently engage students as active participants in lessons or use questions that challenge their thinking. This sometimes causes students to lose concentration and their behaviour deteriorates.....The work to create a welcoming and cohesive community has been highly effective. Students are happy and safe; they generally behave appropriately, respect the views of others and have a good understanding of what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. Leaders and managers make a strong contribution to supporting the regeneration of the local area. Effective pastoral support and guidance, especially for the students and their families whose circumstances have made them vulnerable, make an increasingly positive contribution to the academy's improving relationships with parents and carers in the local community.Before 24 children were allocated there by KCC who had not applied, there were 80 vacancies. This number will inevitably increase afted successful appeals too other schools, so the academy is liklely to begin in September over half empty.
The Marsh Academy, New Romney. This replaced the Southlands School in New Romney, certainly not urban, not failing and not socially deprived! Sponsors this time are Microsoft who presumably want to use the school as a test bed for their ICT developments, picking up on KCCs educational link with the company. Also Tonbridge School is a sponsor, the assumption being that very rich independent schools catering for highly able and wealthy pupils have skills which transfer to the management of state schools. You will find details here. The Academy shares its Principal with the selective Folkestone School for Girls. The June 2010 OFSTED Report records: Marsh Academy, sponsored by Microsoft, Tonbridge School and Kent local authority, opened in September 2007 following the closure of Southlands Community Comprehensive School. It serves a largely rural community. The academy is using the same buildings as the predecessor school because the planned development of new accommodation has been delayed. Agreements have recently been signed to enable the new building to proceed. The academy works in partnership with Folkestone School for Girls. The Executive Principal leads both the school and the academy and there is a head of school and governing body for each establishment, with a joint committee to look at links between them. The academy has a specialism in business and enterprise and operates within the Kent selective system. Most of the students are of White British heritage, reflecting the composition of the local community. The proportion who speak English as an additional language is low. An increasing proportion of students have special educational needs and/or disabilities, well above that found nationally. Most of these have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, but fewer than is typical have a statement of special educational needs. The proportion of students eligible for free school meals is below average. A relatively high number of students, currently 19, are looked after by a local authority. Marsh Academy is a satisfactory and rapidly improving school. In its relatively short history, it has brought marked improvements to some core areas such as attainment, attendance and the curriculum. Other aspects such as behaviour, the quality of teaching and the consequent progress that students make are also improving well. Effective and determined leadership and management are at the cornerstone of this positive picture. Vacancies for 2011 entry.
Mascalls School Paddock Wood. Heavily oversubscribed, although I have had considerable success at appeal.The new headteacher is Mr Stuart Reeeves, previously Head of Cockermouth School in Cumbria, itself a very popular and successful school.55 first choices oversubscribed on 2nd March 2010. 40 appeals. Cut off distance was initially 4.66 miles, but several children were offered places off the waiting list and more on appeal. 34 first choices oversubscribed for September 2011 in March.
Mayfield Grammar School Changed its name from Gravesend Grammar School for Girls for September 2011, because of its increased popularity with boys in the sixth form (46 boys expected to arrive in September). The name is derived form the original building in which the school was housed. 2008 - heavily oversubscribed. 2009 spare places. 2010 a few spare places in March. OFSTED in 2008 recorded that "Gravesend Grammar School for Girls is a good school, with a record of extremely high academic standards and strong pastoral care greatly valued by staff, students and parents". Plenty of spare places for 2011 entry. Applying to become an academy.