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 ........
KCC appears be moving towards a sensible compromise in its review of free school transport in the face of the financial pressures it is facing. Kent on Sunday reports that KCC is now revisiting its initial proposals to axe all discretionary free school transport to grammar schools and faith schools, apart from those already in receipt of the benefit, from September 2012. It is now looking to retain it for families with children on free school meals and other low income families........
Government has approved £12.5 million for the partial rebuilding of the new St Augustine's Academy, Maidstone, planned to open in September 2010 to replace the current Astor of Hever School. Whilst this confirms government support for the old style Academies, it is a far cry from the £30 million average lavished on those Academies whose rebuilds were approved before July 2010. The work is anticipated to be finished for September 2013. The Academy will have main sponsors, the Woodard Foundation, a Church of England Trust.This will make the fourth Anglican Sponsored Academy in Kent and Medway.
Kent County Council is consulting on plans to cut grants for children attending grammar schools and faith schools. These grants are discretionary and the grants could be cut by as much as half for new and possibly current pupils from September 2012......