I now have the data for  appeals for those primary and secondary schools in Kent, whose appeals were heard by an Independent Appeal Panel organised by KCC. In previous years I have had the data for all schools at this time, but figures for the 26 secondary schools who organise their own appeals will not be available until later in the year. I do not publish school by school data here, as it varies so much year on year, depending on the pressure on places, the decision of the admission authority (in most cases the school)  as to how hard to resist the appeal and the make up of the panels. However, I do identify below where there are particular…
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Fort Pitt Grammar School, in Chatham, is the latest Academy to spread its wings as it prepares to take over two struggling schools in Medway. The Robert  Napier Secondary School (one of the lowest performing in the country at GCSE) and Glencoe Junior School (which was found to be making inadequate progress by OFSTED last year) area bout to be taken over by the Fort Pitt Academy Trust, providing the  appropriate approvals are given, which should be a formality, as such arrangements are smiled on by government........
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Medway Council is bidding to create one of the 24 new University Technical Colleges (UTCs) to be set up by government, which would be based near the University of Greenwich site. I wrote and published here, the article you will find below, in October. All that has changed is that Medway Council is developing the idea and has set up an email consultation, which will form the basis of demonstrating whether parents want a University Technical College in Medway. You can respond to the survey here.  Whilst a site has not yet been chosen for the proposed College, Medway Council suggests it could be at an unused block at Brompton Barracks. You can find fuller information at the Medway Council…
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Once again Kent school pupils reach above average standards in GCSE results with 5 GSCE A-Cs including English and maths, at 59% (national 58%), having kept above national averages  consistently for many years. Meanwhile, Kent Primary performance consistently lags below the national standard. Medway's performance has declined in relation to national averages for the third consecutive year, down to 56% for 2011.  What is remarkable about the results for individual schools mentioned below is the highs and lows of church sponsored schools and academies.  Naturally, grammar schools dominate the league tables with many scoring 100%, but many non-selective schools have done very well, top being ........
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I am appalled by proposed changes to School Exclusion Panel procedures, which hand over enormous powers to schools, and especially academies, to get rid of undesirable  children. Consultation is taking place on these proposals until February 17th.  A Panel of School Governors will remain to uphold or overturn a headteacher's decision to permanently exclude (expel). Some governing bodies approach this task independently, but many will act to uphold the headteacher's decision as an action of support. Up until now there has been a check - an Independent Appeal Panel (IAP) which includes a serving or recently retired headteacher to ensure the other two members understand the issues. It is proposed to scrap IAPs  and replace them by a Review Panel. For an…
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A year ago, there was much debate about the vacant site at the redundant Wildernesse School (boys) in Sevenoaks, after it merged with The Bradbourne School (girls) nearby, in the latter's premises, to serve as the basis for the new Knole Academy which has now been operating since September. The new academy will soon be accommodated in its adapted premises, costing £18 million to develop. There are now two alternative but incompatible proposals for the vacant Wildernesse site: a Christian Free Comprehensive School; and an annexe to one or more existing grammar schools. Both projects have a proposed start date of September 2013. .....
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The Isle of Sheppey Academy has been served with 'Notice to Improve' by OFSTED after an inspection in December, placing it in the inadequate or failing category. It thus joins the Marlowe Academy, as the second out of 17 old style academies to fail their inspections. One suspects this will not be the last, as two others are are over half empty in Year Seven reflecting parental lack of confidence in them: New Line Learning in Maidstone (occupying its new £31 million premises), and Skinners Kent Academy in Tunbridge Wells (£30 million premises still to come)- how will they financially cope  with so few children on roll.  However, the Inspection Report does indicate that the school may be turning a…
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Congratulations to Oakwood Park Grammar School, in Maidstone, which has gained an 'Outstanding'  classification from OFSTED. The school, which has to work hard to compete for able students with the more historic Maidstone Grammar School, is summarised thus: "It fulfils its aim of offering students ‘an exceptional learning experience’. The headteacher, governors and senior leaders have established an extremely supportive ethos which enables students to achieve highly in their personal and academic development. All groups of students,......
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