There is growing evidence that the principle of a single 11+ assessment in both Kent and Medway is under attack as grammar schools come under differing pressures and Academy freedoms allow Governing Bodies to  consider alternatives, as some become increasingly oversubscribed and others suffer from falling rolls in their areas. The issues surrounding the "super-selectives" are well documented. At the other end of the scale, the Dover Grammar schools have for some years run the Dover Tests offering an alternative means of access to their schools, which sees them fill, whereas under the Kent Test they would both be half empty (this doesn't stop Dover Girls Grammar from being one of the highest academic  achieving schools in the county). 

Now Chatham Grammar School for Boys & Chatham Grammar School for Girls have finished a consultation that proposes to offer places to children from 2013 onwards, who have passed either the Kent or the Medway Tests, and in addition for late applicants to be considered on the basis of alternative evidence of grammar school ability. This is in the face of falling numbers entering secondary schools in Medway for some years and for another four or five years to come.  

At the other end of the scale, the 'super-selective' grammar schools in West Kent and Dartford have spawned an intense coaching culture for children that sees their pass marks creep higher and higher. This year in the Kent Test, a record number of 589 children scored the maximum score of 420 (pass mark 360), around half coming from Kent primary schools, a proportion that is constant through all the top scores. I believe the required score for most of these schools will rise even higher this year, and anticipate .......

Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is carrying out a consultation (closing date 15th June) into whether it should join the 'super-selective' club of Kent grammar schools. The proposition is that boys who score over 385 in the Kent Test for grammar school admission and who live within 9 miles of the school are given priority. Currently places are allocated to those boys who pass the test (current pass mark 360), who live closest to the school (for 2011 entry this being 5.157 miles).......

In  spite of my comments below, the Judd School is even more popular this year. The pass aggregate score has risen to 417 (from 414/415 at this stage) and, I am reliably informed, with a record number of boys having scored the maximum 420 points. However there is usually a fallout from those offered places, so don't be surprised if it falls to 415 by the time of the appeals. For Skinners the cut off has fallen this year from the 410 of 2010, to 407, although some 407s are missing out. This means that it has been overtaken by Dartford Grammar with (a pass score of 411) in the high scores stakes! These include 72 boys from out of county, mainly from Bexley, Bromley and Lewisham. Tonbridge Grammar is also well up on last year offering 410/411 for in area girls and 414 for out of area. Dartford Grammar School for Girls also takes high scorers after local girls have been offered places and this year the cut off score has jumped to 413 from 404. This has allowed 42 out of county girls through, nearly all from Bexley, Bromley and Lewisham. 

The Rochester Grammar School cut off score, at 513, is only five points above the pass mark of 508. This is the lowest gap I can recall. The Medway Test uses a different scale to that in Kent, which is why the marks appear higher.

Please note that this page has been written to respond to controversy around Paul Carter's remarks of October 2009. It does not take on the fundamentally larger question of the rationale of the selective system in Kent, which is a political position not broadly challenged by Kent residents.

In a news report in the Independent newspaper, Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council, proposes an expansion of grammar school places in the West of the County, to be balanced by a reduction in places available in the East.

This article formed the basis for a Report in Kent on Sunday, July 2009, about the School Adjudicator's decsion not to order changes to the admission rules for the Judd and Skinners School for September 2010 entry. Ther has been a subsequent Report in October 2010.