EXCLUSIVE
by political editor Paul Francis

Grammar schools in Thanet could be facing reductions in the number of places available under a controversial County Hall plan to increase numbers elsewhere in the county.

KCC says it wants to re-allocate spare places at grammar schools in east Kent to west Kent, where it says there is more pressure because of the number of applications swollen by those applying from outside Kent.

But the plan has already triggered criticism and come under fire from the Thanet South Labour MP Dr Steve Ladyman.

Although an opponent of selection, Dr Ladyman said it would be wrong for grammar schools in Thanet to forfeit places to make way for pupils who did not even live in Kent.

He said: "A significant number of people who come into west Kent schools are from outside the county. It seems pretty unfair to me that those who want a grammar place in east Kent should be asked to sacrifice their places for people from Sussex or London. There is growing demand for grammar school places in east Kent – why should they be discriminated against in favour of west Kent?"

He emphasised that he did not believe in selection but that so long as it was in place, it should be operated fairly.

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KCC's plan, which is likely to have be approved by the Schools Adjudicator, could come into effect as early as next year.

County council leader Cllr Paul Carter has asked education officials to come up with options for increasing the allocation of places at some grammar schools in west Kent.

Mr Carter said: "What I'm proposing would involve an expansion in the west with one or two extra forms of entry. Our proposal is nothing radical, we're not changing the status quo. Between 24 per cent or 25 per cent of year six pupils will take up a grammar school. We have massive pressure on places in west Kent but at the same time are struggling to fill places in east Kent. That's not sensible."

Around 5,113 pupils passed the 11-plus test this year with close to 1,000 who did so coming from outside the county. Many of those are from authorities that border west Kent, adding to pressure on grammar schools there.

There are 4,458 places available at the authority's 33 grammar schools.

The plan was also criticised by opposition Lib Dem education spokesman Cllr Martin Vye.

He said: "It will undoubtedly be a hit on these non-grammar schools who are doing so well for the children they educate. It will reduce the 'critical mass' of children of more academically able children that has been a major factor in their success."

Allocating more places at grammars when secondary numbers were already low would leave non-selective schools financially worse off, he added.