Update: On Radio Kent this morning Julia George, following an interview with me, read out a follow up email: 'I should have added that the Medway Test is seriously flawed, with year on year: Girls do significantly better than boys. Older children do better than younger ones. Not true in Kent. I have the statistics; This why there are three grammar schools for girls and two for boys (one trying to go co-ed which will exacerbate the issues); This was caused because of the single question on Extended Writing which carries 40% of the marks. The pass mark is an aggregate from the three tests, so high performance on the Extended Writing question can earn a place on its own, and conversely. The test is quite simply not fit for purpose'.
My comment on last year’s failure underlines the complete lack of urgency by the Council and included: ‘The new Cabinet Member for Children's Services (including Education), Andrew Mackness, was informed of the problem on Saturday. Unfortunately, he was unable to get Officers to respond until Monday morning, but still describing their action as prompt, although it surely should have been possible for someone from an Authority whose slogan is 'Serving You', to establish that at a minimum the total score was correct before then. A statement to this effect on Sunday would have saved a great amount of grief, as I know from the torrent of emails I have received ‘.
For those unfamiliar with the Council’s appalling performance relating to the Medway Test over the years, a browse of this website using the search term ‘Medway’ will enlighten you.
The Medway Test Pass Score of 495, although below last year’s 513 does not mean the standard is any lower. The standard required is the same. The difference reflects the number of Medway children taking the test and their abilities.
I run a Telephone Consultation Service to support and advise families living in Medway or Kent Local Authority areas, who are considering Review, looking at secondary school options, or thinking about chances of success at appeal, for schools in Kent or Medway Local Authorities.
The pages of this website also contain much free information about each of these issues
You will find details of each of the possibilities via the links below, or to the right of this article. You may wish to start with the page on Can I help you?
Telephone Consultation Service
Admission to Medway Secondary Schools
Admission to Medway Grammar Schools
Individual Medway Secondary Schools. This contains information on each secondary school and academy. I am currently updating these pages. If the one you wish to consult is not up to date, please let me know and I will attend to it.
These pages also contain links to pages providing comment and data relating to school admissions....
The relevant Kent pages can be reached via the links on the Right Hand side of this article, Kent Test results not being sent out until 12th October.