This article looks at three communications from Kent County Council to headteachers, addressing issues about grammar school admissions and appeals at this time of Coronavirus.
The first is a letter sent to schools regarding the timing of the 2020 Kent Test for grammar school suitability in 2021, currently planned for September.
I also look at two separate items relating to grammar school places for this September for some children. The first of these is about problems at appeal regarding unsuccessful Headteacher Assessments caused through the crisis; the second looks at late applications and testing.
Quite rightly, the letter states: ‘it is too early to confirm anything other than that provision will be made for children to be assessed so that Kent’s grammar schools can determine which of their applicants can be admitted’. It goes on to explain that nothing can be settled until further advice from government is received. I can’t see that any of the rumours have a basis in fact if they try and take the situation further than this, or assume a specific end to the pandemic. The key date is Monday 2nd November, when applications for secondary school places need to be submitted, producing two alternative scenarios.
- The Kent Test takes place either on the set dates above, or else at some later date early enough to enable parents to know the outcome before choosing schools by the National Closing Date on 2nd November. At present assessment decisions are scheduled to be sent to parents on Thursday 15 October. National Closing Date is not going to change to suit the small number of grammar schools nationally that are in this situation.
If the date of the Test is moved forward, it still needs to allow the whole assessment process to be worked through, including Head Teacher Assessments, before publication of the results. At present, there is a gap of just 18 days between the two dates, so there is little flexibility to move the Test dates further into September.
My own view is that if the current set dates cannot be adhered to, then KCC will move onto scenario Two.
- If it is the case that decisions cannot be worked through in time for National Closing Day, then KCC will revert to a previous system where families choose schools before knowing the Test outcome. Unfortunately, this has considerable drawbacks for many who then have to hedge their bets by choosing their four schools to take into account the two possible test outcomes (or three if they are considering a super-selective school).
In this case the Test can be set as late as December. The last paragraph of the excerpt addresses the learning consequences of such a decision.
Whilst there is nothing that families can do directly about this, it becomes more critical that, if an HTA was carried out, your appeal documents include the information normally carried on this document, to assist the Panel. The best way of doing this is to see if your primary school will give you a copy of the form it submitted to the HTA Panel (not necessarily possible as the school is closed), and submit this with the data it contains. All that will then be missing is the reason for turning down the HTA (which is rarely to your advantage anyway), which completes the HTA process.
- Reasons for HTA
- Evidence
- Y4 Teacher NC Assessments in Maths, Reading and Writing
- Y5 Teacher NC Assessments in Maths, Reading and Writing
- CAT (or similar) Standardised Scores (all subtests)
- Latest Reading Age/Standardised Score.
If you can’t get hold of the form, try and obtain as much of this information as possible from the school (and I know this can be impossible because of Coronavirus), but only use it if it shows your child in a good light.
The letter contains advice to headteachers of Community Primary schools, leaving them free as to how they use any forms they have received. Presumably headteachers from academies and voluntary aided schools are in the same position. When you get your paperwork before the appeal you will see if the HTA form is included.
- Delay any appeal until late testing using the Kent Test becomes an option; unlikely this term.
- Proceed with the appeal, without an assessment decision, just based on academic evidence. If the appeal is not upheld, it would still be possible for the child to be tested at a later date. If the child then passes the Test late, they will be eligible for a second appeal due to changed circumstances if the school is then full. This would be allowable under the Appeals Code of Practice at the school's discretion. I am afraid I believe that few Appeal Panels will uphold a case without the Test evidence, unless there is an exceptional case to explain the situation and very strong academic evidence to justify a positive decision.
