Kent Grammar schools

[Catholicmummy]

Hi.. can someone please enlighten me on the advantages and disadvantages of Kent Grammar Schools having a preference for the local children?

I'm not sure anyone can enlighten you - it's just an opinion thing. Those schools that go purely on score will have DC coming from further afield - not great for journey times, the environment, local friendships, and the ability of Kent kids to go to a school that's selective but still local. On the flip side, it means that the school can have a more narrow ability range (ie the top of the top) and teach them accordingly (ie the kids can arguably work at a faster pace and achieve more). Schools with a distance element preserve a more local feel and cater better for their immediate community - but might leave very able kids who live further away unable to access a grammar. Some schools now operate a hybrid model (with inner and outer catchments) to try to do both. None of that's rocket science though - I'm not sure I'm enlightening you much!

Putting in local priority effectively means you need to live there on application, rather than people being able to sit multiple exams and then move house accordingly. In my view this gives more of a community feel to the schools.

I think there is also a issue with how other areas claims " grammar" schools when it is not actually a grammar area and this creates a issue for some to see the difference.

That Kent grammar schools have a policy of local children first is no difference to non grammar areas having a distance criteria. It just gets confused by areas where they say grammar school and have a sit in exam. In Kent due to it being a grammar county you only sit the one test and can then apply for grammar schools if you are above the "pass rate" if it is an individual school you often end up having a child sitting several exams.

I live close to 3 grammar schools and 2 non grammar schools (in Kent) there are children who come in from further afield my son was one of them as we moved when he was in 6th form and are now much closer to the schools he and his sister went to. Older 2 went to a non grammar county school and there was not much difference in distance between the school systems (we lived right on the boarder of Surrey and Sussex in Kent when the oldest two went to school so had a choice their school friends from primary went to 4 different counties for schools)

Hello, I wonder if anyone may be able to help me. We live in East Sussex, about 9 miles as the crow flies from TWGGS. My DD has her kent test results yesterday and scored 410. Is it worth me applying for TWGGS? I have heard it is incredibly hard to get into if you don’t live OOC? Many thanks

Their policy is on their website. 4 mile radius including East Sussex. The score doesn’t matter, only distance. But that’s a fantastic score and you have a chance to get into Toggs, I think! That’s the super selective in Tonbridge and 11th ranking school in U.K. You would fall under the out of county criteria but if you go to the KCC website, you’ll see the results for this year. Last year, over 1,000 children scored higher than 400. This year, it was 650 or so. I think she has a good chance!

@Nekoness thank you 😊. We are going to see both TGS and TWGGS today. I didn’t realise that TGS was ranked 11th in UK, that’s good to know.

Tonbridge Girls Grammar school maybe ranked 11th in the county, but I can assure you that the driving of the parents dropping off is probably the 11th worst in the country.

To be fair to the school, they’ve done everything they can - there’s signs that say “no” stopping at all - not even 30 seconds”. Their website has extensive transport planning, instructions on what not to do (if you’re driving don’t use this route, don’t turn around on this road, etc) and all their open events tell parents to park in town car parks and prepare to walk up the hill for the 20 min walk.

It’s a hell of a lot more proactive than Skinners. Their parents block residential roads, park on single and double yellows, and their headmaster does fuck all when local residents complain. Meanwhile there’s a public car park with 30 min free parking literally across the road that always has empty spaces at end of school.

Wankers are everywhere

@SussexMumofOne, are you getting personalised tours? Toggs open morning was yesterday and Twggs was a while back. If you’re getting 1:1 tours, love to hear your opinion on what you saw and how they compared. It’s so different to open mornings and evenings.

@Nekoness not we are going to the open morning at TWGGS today which starts at 11 and the open eve at TGS which starts at 17:45.

Ooo, thank you! They added more dates since I last looked. Popped over myself now as am shocked how scruffy it is compared to Tgs. Would be interested in your view when you toured both.

@Nekoness yes we thought the same. We were not very impressed. WOK tour was fantastic, interactive, lots of teachers to speak to, great resources and a welcome gift bag! The students at TWGGS didn’t seem as happy somehow?

Anyone thinking of applying to Cranbrook? How does that compare to TWGG etc?

Interesting about WOK. They must be really trying their bestest. We didn’t even consider it, given the horrifying bullying that lead ofsted to step in.

@Nekoness We almost didn’t - we know several girls who go there and they all love it, we spoke to them about the bullying and they all said the same, ‘the head was the issue and now she is gone’! It is worth seeing in my opinion.

We saw TGS last night and this is now our firm favourite. Our DD just seemed to fit in there and was confident and happy walking around and engaging with both the students and teachers. We felt that the way they teach MYP snd IB worked really well with our DD’s learning style and believe that the school was able to offer the most in terms of resources and bringing out the best in their students. They have a strong focus on mental health and well-being, which is as important to me as my DD’s education.

@SussexMumofOne, that’s fantastic! I think TWGGS being the only non academy left really shows in lack of building maintenance. The girls proudly pointed to the music practice rooms and I’m thinking… TOGS have installed state of the art soundproof practice rooms… really can tell there’s been investment in their facilities. There was a sense of brimming pride from the parents and girls in the open morning that made me smile. We are thinking more in practical terms of travel. One school is 5 min walk a day, the other involves 2 hour commute of walking/trains.

@SussexMumofOne beware of marketing....there are plenty of girls at TGS with MH issues, just as there are at TWGGS and WOK. I have friends with children in all of the mentioned schools and there are issues with them all, and the levels of support given - you need to choose the school that suits your child best, and talk to existing parents if you can. Yes, they all have pastoral leads and say they deal with things robustly - but it's different once you are in the schools themselves, and obviously every child is different.

(All four of mine have been or are currently at west Kent grammars. The head at Skinners' does try to stop parents parking - they pay no attention to the constant pleas not to park like idiots and to use the free car park - it's the same at TWGGS and TGS - in fact any school really.

With regards to the OP's question - having priority for local children was partly driven by funding - it costs KCC a fortune each year to facilitate the 11+ testing, many of the candidates are OOC with no chance of getting in, and the schools are asking for funding for buildings etc - so KCC made some of their capital contributions dependent on taking a larger % of local children so that local council tax payers benefit.....(I'm not saying I agree - that's the argument they have put forward).

The traffic in and out of Tunbridge Wells in the mornings and evenings is horrific, so I guess they want to reduce congestion, allow local children to walk to school and have local friendships. When DS1 started at Skinners' there were children coming from London and the south coast - they were exhausted by their commutes, and couldn't do stuff at the weekends, or be part of the school community in the same way. It's been lovely for his brothers to have friends they can get to on a bus or walk to easily.....

Hi has anyone else got any more feedback on WOK? We too visited at open day and were super impressed but the Ofsted report on bullying does worth me. Is it really true the problem started and ended with the head and now she is gone the issues are resolved ?

@LadyHalesBroach A fantastic school, less hothouse than the single sex grammars and the better for it. Coming to the end of 2 kids through there. New head (an old pupil!) is ace, wish we’d had him for more of our time there. It’s a great community, results are good and if your kids are well motivated then they will do very well.

Did you say a 2 hr journey??

But most schools have a distance criteria so I can't really so a problem with Kent grammars having a distance criteria too? As surely the main purpose of the schools is to provide education for local children. The alternatives for us are secondary moderns with around 20% of children getting good GCSE English and Maths. I can assure you no one is driving 2 hours to get to those schools!

I agree with @Panicmode1 re: the advantages/disadvantages (and re: the Skinners Headmaster's response to the crappy driving/parking around the school. Ed Wesson will write in the school bulletins about how parents should be more considerate with driving/parking and notifies them of the carpark nearby. Some people just don't think that applies to them!). My son is at Skinners. I think it's great that he can walk there and back, that he and his friends (most of them) live nearby (so it's easier for them to meet outside of school). I'd hate for my DS to have a long commute to school.

My daughter sits her 11plus next year and she wants to go to TWGGS. I'm hoping she gets there (also walking distance) or WOK (bit of a bugger having to take a bus, but hey ho). Otherwise, hoping for Bennett if she doesn't pass 11plus.

Hi, how difficult is to get in Dane court Grammar school, anyone knows please? When school gets the kids names do they look at Kent test score to select kids?

If you live in Thanet, your dc almost certainly will get a place at Dane Court, as long as they “have been deemed suitable for a grammar school.” They may have scraped a pass (which includes Head Teacher appeal), or have scored full marks - the actual mark is irrelevant.

I live in Herne Bay. Some years children from here get into Dane Court, but mostly they don’t. My dds all attended CCGS, and were extremely happy there.

Thank, you, yes we do live in Thanet and assessed suitable for Grammar, but reading all about Pupil Premium, local authority kids have advantage, just scared that my daughter will not get it as we don't have any additional advantages apart for passing that test....tbh its long wait until March to find out