Calling for Fairer Grammar School Places
March 1st, 2010
Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon has called for changes to the system for allocating grammar school places in West Kent.
“New figures show that 311 Kent places went to out-of-county pupils last September, most of them at the West Kent grammar schools. It isn’t fair that our children lose out to those whose parents choose to live in non-selective areas like East Sussex, Bromley and Bexley.”
“The Appeal Court ruled (in the 1990 Greenwich judgement) that schools cannot discriminate against applications from pupils outside their local authority boundary. But this judgement was about schools on the border between two London boroughs, and shouldn’t apply to borders between selective and non-selective authorities.”
“It’s unacceptable that parents who decide to live under a selective system, and pay council tax to Kent, then can’t get the school of their choice when their child passes the 11+. Why should East Sussex children take our places when their parents don’t pay for our grammar schools or vote for our council ?”
“The government should either change the law to enable Kent children to have first preference at our schools or allow Kent to provide more grammar school places.”
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Although I disagree with a selective education system in the first place, I believe that if you live in such a system and put your child through the pressure of sitting the 11+, and they pass, then it only seems fair that they are offered a place in a LOCAL Grammar school.
I therefore agree with you that if you live in Kent and go through the selection process it seems fair that your child should have priority to Grammar school places over those from other counties.
I disagree with you, however on the solution; the solution to all of this would be to scrap the selective system altogether and offer the people of Kent a modern, fair, relevant and forward-looking education for all.
Any answer you want me to send on your behalf to this message which has come
from the website?
w