Kent Test and Headteacher Assessment for Entry in September 2021: Further Analysis

Thursday, 28 January 2021 17:47

Kent Test and Headteacher Assessment for Entry in September 2021: Further Analysis

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Index

Individual School Performance

Understandably, many parents are interested in identifying the primary schools which have the greatest success rates in the Kent selection process. Any list is fraught with difficulty as children’s success rates will often depend more on private tutoring arrangements than in-school support. Indeed KCC rules make quite clear that schools may not teach to support Kent Test performance, a rule which is broadly enforced in state schools, although many use devices to get around this. In spite of claims to the contrary, there is no regulation of private schools in this matter, some of whom exist primarily for the purpose of helping children get to grammar school.

KCC regulations covering data released through Freedom of Information requests place considerable restrictions on what is available where small numbers are involved. As a result the following lists, whilst accurate as far as they go, may have omitted a few high performing schools, whilst others are provided with approximate numbers. I am happy to receive additional data. Given all these caveats:

Ashford: Smarden (in excess of) 58%) Stowting (in excess of) 56%; Bodsham 53%; Challock, 48%.

Canterbury: St Peter’s Methodist (in excess of) 60%; Blean, 60%; Wickhambreaux, 56%; Barham 52%.

Dartford: West Hill, 51%; Our Lady of Hartley Catholic, (in excess of) 50%; Gateway 47%; St Anselm’s Catholic, 45%;

Dover, Deal and Sandwich: Sandwich Junior, 46%; Langdon (in excess of) 42%; St Margaret’s at Cliffe, 42%; Sholden CofE, 38%.

Folkestone & Hythe: Sandgate 38%; Lyminge 36%; St Augustine’s Catholic,30 %; Lympne CofE, 29%

Gravesham: St Joseph's Catholic, 57%; Meopham, 39%; Cobham, 38%; Shorne, 34%;

Maidstone: Roseacre Junior, 47%; East Farleigh, 38%: Yalding, Sts Peter & Paul CofE, 38%; Brunswick House, 36%

Sevenoaks: Amherst, 64%; Lady Boswell’s CofE, 62%; Sevenoaks, 57%; St John's CofE (in excess of) 56%

Swale: Sheldwich 53%; Tunstall CofE 53%; Selling CofE; St Peter’s Catholic, 47%

Thanet: St Nicholas at Wade CofE, 42%; Upton Junior 40%; Christ Church CofE Junior, 30%; St Ethelbert’s Catholic, 29%;

Tonbridge & Malling: Plaxtol, (in excess of) 60%; Stocks Green, 55%; Ightham, 50%; Discovery, 49%;

Tunbridge Wells: Claremont 62%;Langton Green, 55%; Bidborough, 52%; Goudhurst & Kilndown CofE, (in excess of) 47%

Local Tests

An FOI Request through the What do They Know website gives, amongst other details, overall outcomes (Kent + Local Test) for boys and girls resident in Dover and Folkestone & Hythe for the 2020 Test as follows.

Grammar Assessment for 2021 entry
District	Boys	Girls
Dover	118	99
Folkestone & Hythe	120	112

This bears little resemblance to the 2020 offer figures below, as children from outside the two districts take up places in the four schools.

In 2020, another 348 children were offered Kent grammar school places through success in a local Test only, mainly in Dover and Shepway, at least doubling the number of children offered grammar places through the Kent Test in those districts. Is this providing more opportunities in areas of social deprivation, or damaging local non-selective schools, or both?

Apart from The Harvey Grammar School and Folkestone School for Girls, which offer the same test, each sets its own test, along with the pass standard. Both the Folkestone and Dover Tests take place on the same day, inhibiting dual applications.

Kent Grammar School Offers by Local Test for Admission 2020
	Kent Selection Process Offers	Local Test Offers	% of Offers by Local Test	Successful Admission Appeals
Dover Boys	63	64	50%	14
Dover Girls	56	84	60%	4
Folkestone	79	111	62%	8
Harvey	101	49	33%	6
Highsted	120	27	18%	11
Mayfield	167	13	7%	38