For some reason I am being inundated this year with enquiries about the forthcoming Kent Test, apparently based on the assumption that I may know more detail than is in the published information.
Kent County Council rightly likes to keep a level of uncertainty in its testing procedure in the hope of reducing the effect of a coaching culture which can try and cover all bases, and so does not release details on the number of questions in each section, which can vary from year to year, etc.
My own view is well-articulated on these pages and elsewhere. I dislike coaching and its effects intensely as it militates against selection by ability but, given its prevalence in a competitive field where just 21% of Kent children are selected, I recommend parents to arrange some form of organised preparation or coaching so their children are not disadvantaged....
For information, I have no knowledge of the Kent Test other than is published here, together with the Familiarisation Paper here.
I continue to applaud the efforts of the KCC Select Committee on Grammar Schools and Social Mobility, whose recommendations have now been approved by the County Council and passed to Officers to propose a plan for implementation.
Thanks to those who have offered me payment for such information but to confirm, even if I possessed such, which I do not, it would not be for private distribution.
By
Than.