Agenda item

Medway has a track record of excellent and ever improving educational delivery in schools across all phases, and this Council recognises the excellent role our grammar schools play in raising aspirations for our most academically gifted children regardless of income or background. 

Furthermore, the highly academic environment and enriching ethos of Medway’s grammar schools provide an excellent quality of education, transforming the life chances of their students whilst narrowing the attainment gap. National research shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve better results in selective schools, and 98% of these schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. 

Medway is fortunate to be home to six superb grammar schools, all rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and the Council has a policy of maintaining a 25% proportion of secondary school places as selective provision.

However, the popularity of Medway’s grammar schools (over 3000 pupils took last year's Medway Test), combined with an increasing school age population means there has been a significant rise in the number of selective applications.

This Council acknowledges that work has already been undertaken in order to address this increase through the expansion of existing grammar schools - creating 650 additional grammar school places in recent years. However, this Council also acknowledges that there are concerns amongst grammar school heads that existing schools are now reaching, or are close to, ideal capacity.

The Council has also worked with our grammar schools to change admission policies so their oversubscription criteria prioritises applicants on distance over their Medway Test score (provided they have met the selective score). The admissions policy changes means Medway grammar schools will best allocate their school places for local children within the rules of the Admissions Code and in accordance with the Greenwich ruling. The Council notes that 5 out of 6 Medway grammar schools have made this change already with the last remaining school due to implement the change for the 2020 intake. 

This Council further notes that, unlike other education provision, there is currently no formal means to fund a new grammar school because they are prohibited and options for satellite schools are extremely limited. In addition, both the means to fund further expansion, and the potential to add further capacity at some of Medway’s existing grammar schools is very limited. 

In light of the above this Council commits to:

·         Working with our grammar schools in Medway to make the case to the Department for Education for a new grammar school or satellite school to be located in Medway.

·         Writing to all three Medway MPs requesting they back this proposal and continue to support the Council in its efforts to meet the local demand for school places across all phases, abilities and needs.

“Medway has a track record of excellent and ever improving educational delivery in schools across all phases, and this Council recognises the excellent role our grammar schools play in raising aspirations for our most academically gifted children regardless of income or background. 

Furthermore, the highly academic environment and enriching ethos of Medway’s grammar schools provide an excellent quality of education, transforming the life chances of their students whilst narrowing the attainment gap. National research shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve better results in selective schools, and 98% of these schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. 

Medway is fortunate to be home to six superb grammar schools, all rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and the Council has a policy of maintaining a 25% proportion of secondary school places as selective provision.

However, the popularity of Medway’s grammar schools (over 3000 pupils took last year's Medway Test), combined with an increasing school age population means there has been a significant rise in the number of selective applications.

This Council acknowledges that work has already been undertaken in order to address this increase through the expansion of existing grammar schools - creating 650 additional grammar school places in recent years. However, this Council also acknowledges that there are concerns amongst grammar school heads that existing schools are now reaching, or are close to, ideal capacity.

The Council has also worked with our grammar schools to change admission policies so their oversubscription criteria prioritises applicants on distance over their Medway Test score (provided they have met the selective score). The admissions policy changes means Medway grammar schools will best allocate their school places for local children within the rules of the Admissions Code and in accordance with the Greenwich ruling. The Council notes that 5 out of 6 Medway grammar schools have made this change already with the last remaining school due to implement the change for the 2020 intake. 

This Council further notes that, unlike other education provision, there is currently no formal means to fund a new grammar school because they are prohibited and options for satellite schools are extremely limited. In addition, both the means to fund further expansion, and the potential to add further capacity at some of Medway’s existing grammar schools is very limited. 

In light of the above this Council commits to:

·         Working with our grammar schools in Medway to make the case to the Department for Education for a new grammar school or satellite school to be located in Medway.

·         Writing to all three Medway MPs requesting they back this proposal and continue to support the Council in its efforts to meet the local demand for school places across all phases, abilities and needs.”

Note: In the absence of the Mayor, Councillor Steve Iles, who withdrew from the meeting for consideration of this item because he had declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI), the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Tejan, chaired the meeting during consideration of this item.

Councillor Johnson, supported by Councillor Gilry, proposed the following amendment:

“…In light of the above this Council commits to:

·         Add: A full review of secondary education provision in Medway that considers in detail the impact of budget cuts imposed by central government, the position of students with special needs in the light of increasing pressures and reducing funding and the need to ensure our young people achieve their potential across all areas of learning, including the academic, the practical, the creative and the vocational, and recognises the outcomes which are valuable for them, including university admission, progress to college, high quality apprenticeship and high quality employment.

·         Add: Using the outcomes of this review to plan in detail a secondary education provision in Medway that meets the needs of all our young people.

·         Delete: Working with our grammar schools in Medway to make the case to the Department for Education for a new grammar school or satellite school to be located in Medway.

Writing to all three Medway MPs requesting they (Delete: back this proposal and) continue to support the Council in its efforts to meet the local demand for school places across all phases, abilities and needs”.

In accordance with Rule 12.4 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the amendment was taken.

For – Councillors Bowler, Cooper, Gilry, Griffiths, Johnson, Maple, Osborne, Paterson, Price, Shaw and Stamp (11)

Against – Councillors Aldous, Avey, Bhutia, Brake, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chishti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Etheridge, Fearn, Filmer, Griffin, Gulvin, Mrs Josie Iles, Jarrett, Joy, Mackness, Opara, Potter, Purdy, Royle, Tejan, Tranter, Turpin, Wicks, Wildey and Williams (29)

Abstain – Councillor Freshwater (1)

Note: Councillors Godwin, Howard, Steve Iles, Kemp, Khan, McDonald, Murray, Pendergast and Saroy were not present for the recorded vote.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

In accordance with Rule 12.4 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the substantive motion was taken:

For – Councillors Aldous, Avey, Bhutia, Brake, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chishti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Etheridge, Fearn, Filmer, Freshwater, Griffin, Gulvin, Mrs Josie Iles, Jarrett, Joy, Mackness, Opara, Potter, Purdy, Royle, Tejan, Tranter, Turpin, Wicks, Wildey and Williams (30)

Against – (0)

Abstain – Councillors Bowler, Cooper, Gilry, Griffiths, Johnson, Maple, Osborne, Paterson, Price, Shaw and Stamp (11)

Note: Councillors Godwin, Howard, Steve Iles, Kemp, Khan, McDonald, Murray, Pendergast and Saroy were not present for the recorded vote.

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was carried.

Decision:

Medway has a track record of excellent and ever improving educational delivery in schools across all phases, and this Council recognises the excellent role our grammar schools play in raising aspirations for our most academically gifted children regardless of income or background. 

Furthermore, the highly academic environment and enriching ethos of Medway’s grammar schools provide an excellent quality of education, transforming the life chances of their students whilst narrowing the attainment gap. National research shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve better results in selective schools, and 98% of these schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. 

Medway is fortunate to be home to six superb grammar schools, all rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and the Council has a policy of maintaining a 25% proportion of secondary school places as selective provision.

However, the popularity of Medway’s grammar schools (over 3000 pupils took last year's Medway Test), combined with an increasing school age population means there has been a significant rise in the number of selective applications.

This Council acknowledges that work has already been undertaken in order to address this increase through the expansion of existing grammar schools - creating 650 additional grammar school places in recent years. However, this Council also acknowledges that there are concerns amongst grammar school heads that existing schools are now reaching, or are close to, ideal capacity.

The Council has also worked with our grammar schools to change admission policies so their oversubscription criteria prioritises applicants on distance over their Medway Test score (provided they have met the selective score). The admissions policy changes means Medway grammar schools will best allocate their school places for local children within the rules of the Admissions Code and in accordance with the Greenwich ruling. The Council notes that 5 out of 6 Medway grammar schools have made this change already with the last remaining school due to implement the change for the 2020 intake. 

This Council further notes that, unlike other education provision, there is currently no formal means to fund a new grammar school because they are prohibited and options for satellite schools are extremely limited. In addition, both the means to fund further expansion, and the potential to add further capacity at some of Medway’s existing grammar schools is very limited. 

In light of the above this Council commits to:

·         Working with our grammar schools in Medway to make the case to the Department for Education for a new grammar school or satellite school to be located in Medway.

·         Writing to all three Medway MPs requesting they back this proposal and continue to support the Council in its efforts to meet the local demand for school places across all phases, abilities and needs.