Grammar school ‘extension’ for more than 1,000 pupils paves the way for dozens more ‘satellite campuses’ around the country – despite ban on new schools
- The plan involves the creation of a ‘satellite campus’ of an existing school in Kent
- The creation of new grammars was banned but this could pave the way moreÂ
- Grammar schools are in high demand among parents who want the best
A new grammar school for more than 1,000 pupils could lead to dozens more being created across the country.
The plan involves creating a ‘satellite campus’ of an existing selective school in Kent.
Establishing new grammars is illegal, but the scheme may be allowed if it is defined as an ‘extension’ of an existing site and relatively nearby.
If approved, it would be only the second one to be built in 20 years, and could set a precedent for many more across the country.
Parents across the country will be hoping that more grammar schools will be founded as they look to provide their children with an education that can match private schools (stock image)
Grammar schools are in high demand among parents who want a rigorous academic education for their children and cannot afford private school fees.
Kent retains the old 11-Plus system used to decide grammar admissions and has a desperate shortage of places.
But Left-wing campaigners yesterday said the plan was creating grammars ‘by the back door’.
Two schools – Barton Court Grammar in Canterbury and Queen Elizabeth’s in Faversham – both want to build a new campus on the coast near Whitstable, around 10 miles from both sites and catering for 150 pupils per year.
Both are to submit rival applications to ministers and will bid for a slice of the Government’s new £50million Selective School Expansion Fund. Parents in the area have long complained their children have to commute long distances to access grammars.
Sir Roger Gale, the Conservative MP for North Thanet, said: ‘It’s ridiculous that all of those young people have to travel to three other towns to have the selective education they’ve qualified for and to which they’re entitled.’
Kent County Council has already said a satellite grammar is the ‘preferred option’ to cope with demand from new housing developments. Kent has 32 grammars, more than most other areas of the country, so the potential for expansion is large.
David Anderson, head teacher at Queen Elizabeth’s, said the plan would provide the ‘opportunities and choice that students deserve’.
Faversham Tory MP Helen Whately added: ‘A satellite school would give more children the opportunity of the education that it offers, along with reducing hours spent in buses and cars to schools further afield.’
It follows a successful bid by the Weald of Kent grammar school in Tonbridge to create a satellite campus in nearby Sevenoaks in 2015. It became the first new selective school to be approved since the creation of new grammars was banned by New Labour in 1998.
Establishing new grammars is illegal, but the scheme may be allowed if it is defined as an ‘extension’ of an existing site and relatively nearby (stock image)
Yesterday, the latest move was criticised by Comprehensive Future, which is run by Left-wing campaigners including Tony Benn’s daughter Melissa.
Nuala Burgess, chairman of the group, said: ‘It’s a shocking use of education funding to try to bypass the law and build a new grammar school via the back door. If this goes ahead, there’s nothing to stop the DfE (Department for Education) from building dozens of dubious ‘annexe’ grammar schools all around the country, all without parliamentary scrutiny, and all in breach of the law.’
The DfE said selective schools will only receive funding for expansions if they can prove how they will improve access for disadvantaged pupils.
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