Best place to live in Kent for Grammar school

[vik2017]

Hi,
This is my first question on this board....
and I wanted to know which is the best place to live in Kent and falls into Grammar catchment area and also if my son dont get to the Grammar at least will go to a very good comprehensive school.
Any suggestion will be appreciated even suggest to move to another place considering we both work in London.

Many thanks in advance...
Viki

Several friends here in TW chose not to send their children to grammar schools, despite them passing the Kent test, because they wanted either a mixed education, or different sports, or a different experience from grammar for their children.

I think this illustrates how some posters assertions about non selective schools in grammar school areas are out of date .

Does a school stop being a 'Modern' school if it sends a student to Oxbridge ! This has happened in a couple of such designated schools.

I also would like to know at which point in terms of % numbers of high attaining pupils does a school become a truly comprehensive school.
So is a school with 35% high attaining pupils 50% middle ability students and 15% low ability pupils a school with a 'Comprehensive' intake.

There are a number of non selective schools in grammar areas that have that kind of statistical cohorts.

@poisonedbypen: if I sit relax and let him go to any school and do whatever he wants to and save my money, thinking I dont want to be sounded horrifying then the outcome will be horrifying....
so please think again about my intentions without being little judgmental..
I am asking for people advise from their experience, ready to move and even ready to pay for independent only for his future...coz I dont see what I will get from this...I am just trying to do best for my child..and still could not get where I sounded horrifying....

"I also would like to know at which point in terms of % numbers of high attaining pupils does a school become a truly comprehensive school.
So is a school with 35% high attaining pupils 50% middle ability students and 15% low ability pupils a school with a 'Comprehensive' intake.

There are a number of non selective schools in grammar areas that have that kind of statistical cohorts."

A school is a comprehensive school when it does not select. Not even a little bit. Not even 10%. Not even by religious faith.

And I would love to see the non selective schools in wholly selective areas that have 35:50:15 cohorts.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/136377?tab=absence-and-pupil-population

6.3 Percentage of pupils with English not as first language
93.6 Percentage pupils with English as first language
0.1 Percentage of pupils where first language is unclassified
5.3 Percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals
143 Number of pupils eligible for FSM at any time during the past 6 years
11.7 Percentage of pupils eligible for FSM at any time during the past 6 years
358 Local Authority Number
136377 Unique Reference Number
86 Total Number of Classroom Teachers and Teachers in the Leadership Group (Headcount)
12 Total Number of Teaching Assistants (Headcount)
24 Total Number of Non Classroom-Based School Support Staff, Excluding Auxiliary Staff (Headcount)
82.2 Total Number of Classroom Teachers and Teachers in the Leadership Group (Full-time Equivalent)
11.8 Total Number of Teaching Assistants (Full-time Equivalent)
23.4 Total Number of Non Classroom-Based School Support Staff, Excluding Auxiliary Staff (Full-time Equivalent)
17 Pupil:Teacher Ratio
£36,237 Mean Gross FTE Salary of All Teachers (Classroom Teachers and Those in the Leadership Group) (£s)
358 Local Authority Number
5400 DfE number of establishment within LA
136377 School unique Reference Number
3.8 Percentage of overall absence (authorised and unauthorised) for the 2015/16 year.
8.6 Percentage of enrolments who are persistent absentees (missing 10% or more of possible sessions) in the 2015/16 year.
3585400 DfE number of establishment
136377 School Unique Reference Number
235 Number of pupils completing key stage 4 in 2013/14
226 Pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
16 Apprenticeships (number of pupils)
4 Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
222 Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
109 Further education (number of pupils)
SUPP Sixth form college (number of pupils)
97 School sixth form (number of pupils)
SUPP Other education destinations (number of pupils)
9 Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
0 Activity not captured (number of pupils)
96% Pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
7% Apprenticeships (percentage)
2% Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
94% Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
46% Further education (percentage)
SUPP Sixth form college (percentage)
41% School sixth form (percentage)
SUPP Other Education destination (percentage)
4% Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
0% Activity not captured (percentage)
1 Record type
358 Local authority number
5400 Establishment number
136377 School Unique Reference Number
0 Closed school flag
Wellington School School name
ACC School type
234 Number of pupils completing key stage 4 in 2014/15
226 Pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
14 Apprenticeships (number of pupils)
12 Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
214 Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
82 Further education (number of pupils)
121 School sixth form (number of pupils)
8 Sixth form college (number of pupils)
3 Other education destinations (number of pupils)
SUPP Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
SUPP Activity not captured (number of pupils)
97% Pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
6% Apprenticeships (percentage)
5% Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
91% Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
35% Further education (percentage)
52% School sixth form (percentage)
3% Sixth form college (percentage)
1% Other Education destination (percentage)
SUPP Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
SUPP Activity not captured (percentage)
23 Number of disadvantaged pupils completing key stage 4 in 2014/15
21 Disadvantaged pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
3 Apprenticeships (number of pupils)
SUPP Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
SUPP Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
15 Further education (number of pupils)
3 School sixth form (number of pupils)
SUPP Sixth form college (number of pupils)
SUPP Other education destinations (number of pupils)
SUPP Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
SUPP Activity not captured (number of pupils)
91% Pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
13% Apprenticeships (percentage)
SUPP Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
SUPP Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
65% Further education (percentage)
13% School sixth form (percentage)
SUPP Sixth form college (percentage)
SUPP Other Education destination (percentage)
SUPP Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
SUPP Activity not captured (percentage)
211 Number of pupils not identified as disadvantaged (not found to be eligible for pupil premium in year 11) completing key stage 4 in 2014/15
205 Pupils not identified as disadvantaged (not found to be eligible for pupil premium in year 11) staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
11 Apprenticeships (number of pupils)
SUPP Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
SUPP Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
67 Further education (number of pupils)
118 School sixth form (number of pupils)
SUPP Sixth form college (number of pupils)
SUPP Other education destinations (number of pupils)
SUPP Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (number of pupils)
SUPP Activity not captured (number of pupils)
97% Pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
5% Apprenticeships (percentage)
SUPP Pupils staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
SUPP Pupils staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
32% Further education (percentage)
56% School sixth form (percentage)
SUPP Sixth form college (percentage)
SUPP Other Education destination (percentage)
SUPP Pupils not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 4 (percentage)
SUPP Activity not captured (percentage)
3585400 DfE number of establishment
136377 Unique Reference Number of school or college
76 Number of students completing 16-18 study in 2013/14
70 Students staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 5 (number of students)
58 Students staying in education for at least two terms after key stage 5 (number of students)
46 UK higher education institution (number of students)
9 Top third of higher education institutions (number of students)
0 Of which Oxford or Cambridge (number of students)
8 Of which Russell group (number of students)
37 Other higher education institutions or providers (number of students)
12 Further education college or other further education provider (number of students)
0 Other education destinations (number of students)
12 Students staying in employment for at least two terms after key stage 5 (number of students)
3 Students not staying in education or employment for at least two terms after key stage 5 (number of students)
3 Activity not captured in data (number of students)
5 Apprenticeships (number of students)

Bertrand. The school i have downloaded achieved 60% pass rate at level 5 for Maths/English GCSE and of 83% for level 4 .

The new level 5 pass rate has enabled the school to show how much greater achievement the school gets , compared to the old C grade.

Trafford much smaller area than Kent. According to Wiki Trafford only have 11 non selective secondary schools.

'Most' of Kent has access to comprehensive schooling if that floats the boat of the parents. It is not beyond possibilities for parents to use schools in East Sussex for example.

The coastal parts of Kent do not have access to comprehensive schooling, . However the problems of schooling on the Kent coast are no more severe than Gt Yarmouth , Blackpool , Hull or any other coastal town.

This suggests it is not selective education that makes schools on the Kent coast difficult places, but a general malaise around education in coastal areas.

'Most' of Kent has access to comprehensive schooling if that floats the boat of the parents. It is not beyond possibilities for parents to use schools in East Sussex for example."

That really is rubbish!

And I nearly said "I bet you're going to talk about Trafford" We have discussed the particular case that is Trafford before- I can't be bothered to explain it again to someone who thinks nearly everyone in Kent has access to Sussex comprehensive schools.

“Most” of Kent does not have access to comprehensive education.

Yes, certain towns in the border of East Sussex are in catchment but the vast majority most definitely are not. It is most definitely not just coastal towns!!

And I may be wrong here, but are the East Sussex comprehensives near the border with Kent truly comprehensive or do they too lose the top cohort?

Pupils travel up to an hour to attend grammar schools, why could they not do similarly to attend a comprehensive school !

I did not say most of Kent can access East Sussex i said most had access to comprehensive education. Paddock Wood for instance is designated as a comprehensive area.

I am not saying the schools in paddock wood Mascalls for instance is no better than Hillview or Hayesbrook school. Yet is designated as a comprehensive school.

I know you are going to say that Paddock Wood is not a comprehensive area due to the large level of exporting pupils to Tunbridge Wells.

However, that same argument could apply to any comprehensive county town on the border of a selective area.

Is any better than.

Transport links to Paddock Wood from the rest of Kent? Hahahaha.

If there was a genuinely comprehensive outstanding school with good results in Kent, with proper transport links, it would have such a minute catchment as it’d be massively oversubscribed!!

@Vik2017, what I am trying to say is that you can't pick a school just because it is a grammar school. If your child is bright & happy he will do well anywhere, if he is bright & unhappy he won't do well, even at a grammar school. Grammar schools have good results because they select the "brightest" children, not because they are grammar schools. Those children will do well anywhere that they are happy & supported.

It would take nearly 3 hours for a child of mine to get to Paddock Wood. And there wouldn't be a place at one of the so called comprehensives when they got there.

If your child is bright & happy he will do well anywhere

Apparently not in Basingstoke, which is why the op wants to move;

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/compare-schools?phase=secondary&orderby=ks4prov.0.P8MEA&orderdir=desc&datatype=integer&sortpolicy=inversepolicy

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/compare-schools?phase=secondary

Oh well, you will have to create your own comparison list for secondary schools in Basingstoke - it won't link for me. Needless to say, every Progress 8 score is a minus.

Barnet? Grammars and good comps
Southwark, no grammars but good comps including the St Thomas the Apostle, school of the year 2017.

@poisonedbypen: exactly!!, "Those children will do well anywhere that they are happy & supported"
But all schools cannot provide this support and have seen examples where brights been ruined coz of lack of support and not good surroundings..and I want exactly what you said Support and happy environment for my son..

Judd and Skinners are super selectively and are sought after. They in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

Maidstone has MGS (Maidstone Grammar school) and Oakwood Park. mGS is considered to be the more tradiitional, although both are good schools. St Simon stock catholic school (also open to non- Catholics) and Valley are considered the best non-grammars in the town.

Rochester maths school is also considered good, and worthwhile considering.

Most of the non-grammars have 'grammar streams' in them.

Kent is a lovely county to live in. Close to the sea, London and the contininent.

Clavinova
You are correct in your assessment of Basingstoke (have not clicked the links but I know the schools)
Hence why once the OP said that, her post made more sense
BUT
I know of loads of kids who live in Basingstoke but go to schools like Perins
so sadly B'stoke is in a bit of a negative spiral (like Andover)
but the local motivated kids and parents do not lose out - they are just at other schools.

There is massive cross catchment traffic in Hampshire
up to 1/3 of pupils at some schools come in from other catchments.

So the OP could solve her problem by looking at where the kids of her fellow local motivated parents send their kids

• save on moving house
• save on the 11 plus
• save on stress
• gain on good education for her kid

There is also Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for boys which is less selective than Judd or Skinners although it does have a smaller catchment area. If you are looking at private schools in this part of Kent as well, then Tonbridge School usually get 30-40 Oxbridge offers and Sevenoaks School had 49 this year.

Ta1kinPeece
Yes, I was looking at some of the 'out of catchment' school buses to Winchester earlier;
www.westgate.hants.sch.uk/Bus-Information (click here message) - including the 6.45am school coach to Westgate School!

www.kings-winchester.hants.sch.uk/school-information/school-buses/ - £960 pa route to King's.

www.perins.net/admissions/buses/basingstoke-bus/
The Basingstoke school bus to Perins is £110 per month!