First grammar in 50 yrs: campus in Sevenoaks proposed

[mystery]

Maybe that's the idea then. Hope that Sevenoaks is welcoming to these oiks from the villages.

I still don't understand how an "annex" would work though. To offer all the necessary curriculum and facilities it needs to have a good load of children in it - far more than 30 per year, more like 180 per year. Maybe they are planning on bussing either the children or the teachers up and down the A21 during the school day?

There is a meeting about it soon. I'd love to be a fly on the wall!! Anyone know where and when it is?

[pheasantchick]

If there is a GS school in Sevenoaks, how many will still try to get their child into a super selective? Judd catchment v super selective argument anyone?

[SSM]

If there is a GS school in Sevenoaks, how many will still try to get their child into a super selective? Judd catchment v super selective argument anyone?

Probably the majority of the people that are wanting a GS in Sevenoaks, as there already coaches put on to take the kids to TWGSB, TOGS and Weald, and like the boy mystery was talking to, and I don't think any of the DC complain about the journey. I think they see it as a good time to socialise.

[mystery]

Yep a good time to socialise with the opposite sex!!

[mystery]

Ahh, SSM so you are saying that the good people Sevenoaks would still send their children on a bus if they got a very high score, but otherwise they would rather their children did not travel?

I think the problem really is that in Sevenoaks TWGSB is still perceived as "the tech" and Weald of Kent is perceived as having some dodgy girls from Tonbridge and outlying areas!! It's OK to say your child goes to TOGS or Judd or Skinners, and of course it's worth the journey if they are that clever, but otherwise they are safer staying in Sevenoaks where the air is fresher.



PS. I'm sure I'd be the same .......... I'd send mine walking 9 miles over a bed of nails to get to TOGS each day, but otherwise I'd rather they didn't have a journey. However, our town is not Sevenoaks and it's probably best to get out of this one to another with a more rarefied atmosphere than moulder here all day and night week in week out!!

PPS. Will anyone say anything of this kind at the Council meeting which is planned at some point on this issue? Any volunteers to read out this thread in a loud voice from the back of the room?

[scarlett]

We're volunteering you Mystery . I'll come along and hold The Unforgiving Coat.

[Minty]

From my experience there is in Sevenoaks a lot of snobbery about the non-super selectives, and the parents who don't get into Judd and Skinners/Togs often choose to go private. There are also a lot of us who are very happy to have children at TWGSB - and personally I would walk over hot coals for my daughter to go to Weald of Kent. I have never heard anything but praise for it here and the girls I know that go there (from Sevenoaks) are absolutely lovely.

As I said I am not sure that a new grammar in Sevenoaks is the solution and would welcome a cap on the distances which the super-selectives go out to as this would benefit all local children. Sadly can't see it happening though!!

[mystery]

Yes I was being a bit facetious about Weald of Kent - I'd send my daughters over hot coals there too (but not me, I value my feet).

Well all those 1,000 plus parents who have signed the petition haven't shown up on here yet. Please, come and join in the fun on this thread!!!!

[Villagedad]

would welcome a cap on the distances which the super-selectives go out to as this would benefit all local children. Sadly can't see it happening though!!

Minty highlights an important point about having a catchment. This was one of the main arguments Sevenoaks parents used a year or so ago when they took the West Kent superselectives to the adjudicator to try and free up more places for in-county DCs..

Now due to the rules of the game changing (grammars are now able to expand with satellite campuses) they are able to put together a quite powerful argument as numbers of primary school age children are set to rapidly expand, which will create a problem from about 2013 onwards - this time much worse than a few years ago

If KCC therefore want to avoid schools like TWGSB having to open extra classes (as has happened quite often in the past) they will need to lay on extra capacity in West Kent now to avoid problems further down the line! This I believe is why KCC are taking it seriously.

The Sevenoaks Christian school proposals can be seen here http://www.sevenoakschristianschool.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best
Villagedad

[tigger2]

Hi ! Understand that the meeting is on the 29th March at County Hall ,Maidstone but I don't know the time .....I cannot get onto the website linked in an earlier post so wondered if anyone has any idea of the surrounding villages that are included in the proposed catchment?
Thanks
Tigger