You will find a parallel Medway article here.
Several updates below.
Kent secondary school allocations have been sent out today for those registered to receive by email and should arrive tomorrow by post for all (weather permitting).
17,442 Kent children applied for places in schools, 745 more than in 2017, with 79.6% of them being offered their first choice. This is the lowest percentage for at least five years, but just 0.8% down on last year. 765 children been given none of their four choices, at 4.4% of the total, again the highest proportion for at least five years, and well up on last year’s 633. I know that a number of additional school places have been created at pinch points across the county, notably Tunbridge Wells, but I am already hearing of some very difficult situations for some of the children with no school of their choice.
In spite of another large increase in out of county applications to Kent schools, up 545 to 3,289, just 818 were offered places, only eight more than in 2017. This will have been partially balanced by around 500 going to schools outside Kent.
You will find more information, including a look at some of the pressure points, together with the tables of outcomes below. You will also find required scores for super-selective schools as these are confirmed (all information welcomed), and initial advice at the foot of the article on what to do if you have not been offered the school of your choice. This begins as always with my Corporal Jones mantra, do NOTHING in panic! You may regret it. There is no quick fix.
There is also a link to the limited advice service I now offer.
You will find the KCC Press Release here if interested.
I will update this article as I receive further information. As always, when I get a school by school breakdown, I shall publish a fuller analysis later this month, the 2017 articles for Kent grammars being here, non-selectives here, for Medway grammars here, and Medway non-selectives here. You will find these give considerable guidance on what to expect this time round.
| Kent Secondary School Allocations: March 2018 | ||||||||
| Kent pupils | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||
No. of Pupils | % | No. of Pupils | % | No. of Pupils | % | No. of Pupils | % | |
| Offered a first preference | 13,891 | 79.6% | 13,418 | 80.4% | 13,159 | 81.4% | 12,796 | 80.5% |
| Offered a second preference | 1,937 | 11.1% | 1,861 | 11.1% | 1,840 | 11.4% | 1,612 | 10.1% |
| Offered a third preference | 641 | 3.7% | 593 | 3.6% | 549 | 3.4% | 611 | 3.8% |
| Offered a fourth preference | 208 | 1.2% | 194 | 1.2% | 196 | 1.2% | 234 | 1.5% |
| Allocated by Local Authority | 765 | 4.4% | 633 | 3.8% | 428 | 2.7% | 641 | 4.0% |
| Total number of Kent pupils offered | 17,442 | 16,697 | 16,172 | 15,894 | ||||
Out of County Applicants
| Out of County Applicants to Kent Secondary Schools 2018 | |||||
| Year | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Out of county applicants | 3,289 | 2,744 | 2,624 | 2,299 | 1,991 |
Offers to out of county pupils at Kent schools | 818 | 810 | 803 | 757 | 602 |
A look at some individual Districts
Most to follow shortly. My apologies, but other matters have had to take priority.
| Temporary Places 2018 | |
| School | Temporary Places |
| Bennett Memorial | 60 |
| St Gregory's Catholic | 60 |
| TW Grammar for Boys | 60 |
| Skinners | 10 |
A number of local children have been allocated High Weald Academy, in Cranbrook an hour and a half by bus away. Whilst I think this is unacceptable, I don't see an obvious alternative, unless Skinners Kent Academy can be persuaded to admit an additional class.
Round up of Super-Selective Scores
Skinners: Some boys on 363 have been offered places (down from 371 in 2017). Judd: 364 Inner (same as 2017), Outer 395 (400). As noted in a previous article, Judd has expanded its intake to 180 to try and ease the pressure. Tonbridge Grammar School: Inners 369: Governors Places 394 (395 in 2017). In Medway, Rochester Grammar is now the only super-selective school, with Rainham Mark Grammar switching to give priority to local children. Cut off score in the Medway Test is 520, down by 26 marks on 2017, but with the Medway Test pass mark down by 24 marks, it will be very similar level of difficulty.
Others to follow shortly, weather permitting as most schools are currently closed (3/3)
What can you do if you don't have a school of your choice?
As noted above, don't panic.
So what next? If you are not awarded the school of your choice, then certainly go on the waiting list for every school you have applied for and still wish to consider. You have the right to appeal to any and every school for which you have been turned down. My article on 2017 appeals should be taken as guidance only, a classic example of the warning of taking data too much to heart being the Harvery Grammar in Folkestone, where, after a 12% success rate in 2016, the school decided it could run an additional form for one year only in 2017, and the success rates soared to 89%, as they sought to admit more children. I don't expect this again. You will also find plenty of free advice in the appeals sections of this website at: Kent Grammar Appeals; Medway Grammar Appeals; and Oversubscription Appeals. There is also copious grammar school appeal advice on the 11 plus Exams website, although it is not necessarily Kent specific and in any case often written for out of county candidates who have different expectations and perceptions, so be careful.
Obviously, you should talk to your primary school who should be able to offer advice and, if you are not sure of the school to which you have been allocated, ask for another visit, which is likely to be as an individual rather than with the crowd who were there on Open Day.
You also have the option of making a late application for a fresh school, called an In Year Application from 16th March in Kent, or go on any school’s waiting list after 25th April. Details here (page 18). You can apply for as many schools as you wish through this process. Every year we see a considerable ‘churning’ effect as children take up places off the waiting lists, as children win appeals at higher preferences, and some unhappy families remove themselves from the state system, so don't lose hope!
Medway is far more convoluted and parents and I often find it difficult to pin down a shifting procedure especially with late grammar school applications, the Admission Booklet being of limited assistance. The phrase ‘at the discretion of the Student Services Management Team’ is used too often in discussion.
I regret I have retired from my Personal Appeals Service, being the only Kent and Medway appeals specialist I am afraid. I still offer a Telephone Advisory Service which provides an initial hard-nosed information and advisory assessment.