March Newsletter

News from Sevenoaks ACE March 2012 Results Published | Your Likes, Dislikes and Wants We have now published the results of the likes, dislikes and wants survey that we ran in January and February.  As an “open ended” piece of data collection where  residents could state, in free format, what they thought about these aspects, it was not particularly scientific, but it has highlighted some perceptions of issues which we will investigate more thoroughly in our quantitative survey later this year. The full list of wants, likes and dislikes is available on our website. Next Steps... Development of the full survey is now well underway.  Using ideas, comments and perceptions highlighted by the likes, dislikes and wants, we are putting together a quantitiatve survey to gain better understanding of people's views about secondary school provision for the Sevenoaks area.  We hope to distribute this survey to all families in the Sevenoaks area including surrounding villages and towns who would have access to secondary school provision in the town.  For children of primary and secondary school age this is relatively straight forward in that we can hopefully use school's to provide a distribtuion channel.  Families with pre-school age children present a greater problem.  If you or somebody you know is involved with a nursery, playgroup, pre-school or other organisation and would be willing to help us with the distribtion of our survey then please get in touch. Why is this important? KCC has acknowledged that population increases over the next few years are going to put tremendous strain on secondary school places for children in the Sevenoaks areas.  The population in T.Wells is set to increase by around 200 11 year olds in 2013!  Such a high proportion of Sevenoaks children have historically attended schools in T.Wells; grammar, faith and non-selective schools - they are simply going to be pushed out of catchment on distance rules. KCC must provide sufficient capacity.  It is a legal obligation.  Whilst there are two proposals on the table, neither is yet a guarantee of future capacity, and if for some reason, neither is able to happen, then plan B will have to be put in place, and quickly.  Any decision over a free school, a grammar school or a plan 'B' will be hugely strengthened by a body of evidence of the demands of local parents. Secondary School Offers made March 1, 2012 KCC Cabinet Debate on Secondary Provision for Sevenoaks March 29, 2012 Free School bid interviews End April 2012 onwards Get in Touch Do you have a little spare time to help our team.  There is a huge amout of work in the administration of the survey which, if shared out could be cut into manageable chunks.  If you feel strongly about the future of secondary education in Sevenoaks, then please get in touch and see how you might help. E: info@sevenoaksace.org W: www.sevenoaksace.org FB: www.facebook.com/sevenoaksace twitter: @sevenoaksace

Survey Results - Likes, Dislikes & Wants

In January and February this year, we asked the community in the Sevenoaks area to tell us what 3 things they like, dislike and want to see for secondary school provision for the area.


We have now analysed the responses we have received and summarised them in the presentation below.  If you want to see the full list of likes, dislikes or wants these are shown on individual pages on this site.  If you haven't yet given us your views, it isn't too late and we'd love to hear from you - just click the menu at the top of the page.
Likes, Dislikes & Wants Results

View more presentations from Sevenoaks ACE.

Survey Results - What You Want

Thanks to those of you who gave us your thoughts on what you'd like to happen for secondary school provision for the Sevenoaks area.  We've listed all the wants mentioned (in descending order of frequency) below:

• Grammar Annexe    
• No response    
• Higher academic achievement/behaviour    
• Christian Free School Proposal/ Faith school    
• Grammar Annexe - Mixed    
• Choice of selective and non-selective    
• Comprehensive option    
• Grammar Annexe - Single Sex    
• Choice of non-selective schools    
• Better/safer/cheaper transport to out of town schools    
• Grammar stream / non-selective grammar school    
• Co-educational options    
• Maximum journey of 20 minutes to school    
• Single sex schools    
• Values based, inclusive education, relevant focus    
• Admission based on geography    
• Sufficient secular capacity    
• Knole to become outstanding/better    
• Partnership between local schools    
• Another secondary school    
• More capacity    
• More local places    
• Outstanding school(s)    
• A school to be proud of    
• Community engagement    
• Good teaching/discipline/curriculum    
• Excellent provision for all    
• Greater community service    
• Church attendance not used in selection    
• Greater engagement from Knole    
• No faith school    
• Provision for high achievers (late developers)    
• Fairer selection system    
• Changes to benefit the town and children    
• Smaller non-selective school    
• Located close to centre    
• Better extra-curricular activities/breadth of curriculum    
• More funding    
• No (more) grammar schools    
• Single sex and co-ed options    
• Equality of funding per pupil across schools    
• Dedicated provision for learning disabilities    
• Match Tonbridge provision    
• Larger schools    
• Out of area applications a concern    
• Either of the proposed options    
• Disbanding of catchment grammar schools    
• Additional non religious school    
• Focus on sport    
• More support for appreticeships    
• Road safety problems for proposed options    
• Private schools with moderate fees    
• School within walking distance    
• International/global focus    
• Interviews as part of admissions  

Survey Results - What You Like

Thanks to those of you who told us what you like about secondary school provision for the Sevenoaks area.  Below are the responses we received, starting with the most frequently cited at the top.

• No response (didn't specify a dislike)
• Knole easy to get to    
• Grammar Schools    
• High quality/good in the wider area    
• There are options    
• Knole Academy    
• Private Schools if you can afford it    
• Investment in sports facilites/buildings/grounds at Knole    
• Convenient travel services    
• Sevenoaks School    
• Future potential of Knole    
• Non-selective option    
• Co-educational    
• Part of local community    
• IB / International outlook    
• Application process    
• Good children    
• Oxted School    
• Other    
• Good technical based schools    
• Parental concern    
• Committed teachers    
• Good choice for girls    
• Church school option    
• Single Sex Education    
• Collabroation between schools    
• Perception - high standards    
• Knole for Girls    
• Local friends  

Survey Results - What You Dislike

Thanks to those of you who told us what you dislike about secondary provision for the Sevenoaks area.  Below are listed the things you disliked, starting with the most frequently mentioned at the top.

• No response (Did not specify a like)   
• No local grammar    
• There is only one option/lack of choice    
• Nothing to like
• Good schools are too far away    
• Knole Academy not good enough    
• Lack of Christian ethos / faith schools    
• Poor quality / academic levels    
• Selection on ability    
• Super-selective grammars    
• no guarantee of place in Ton/T.Wells schools    
• 11+ preparation inequality    
• Insufficient local capacity    
• Too many private schools    
• Lack of single sex education    
• Transport to schools/congestion/ Cost    
• No track record at Knole    
• No Co-ed Grammar    
• Too many out of area students    
• Good local schools are fee paying most can't afford    
• Knole curriculum    
• Lack of options for boys    
• Insufficient local take up of Knole    
• No local provision for high achievers    
• insufficient grammar capacity    
• Hearsay Limited Choice    
• No local single-sex grammar    
• Wildernesse now Knole    
• Selection on faith / religious hipocricy    
• Insufficient focus on languages/sport    
• Knole not truly comprehensive    
• Lack of support for learning disabilities    
• Lack of collaboration with schools in Ton/T.Wells    
• Single sex education    
• Lack of resource in Kent schools    
• Lack of local friends    
• Disparity between non-selective & selective schools    
• Closure of Bradbourne    
• Lack of options for girls  

Complete our Likes & Dislikes Survey

Check out today's Sevenoaks Chronicle (Jan 12) P21 for our mini-survey on secondary school provision for Sevenoaks.  We want to hear your views so that we can work to ensure sufficient secondary school places in the Sevenaoks area that meet the needs of the community.  The coupon can be dropped off at the Chronicle's offices in the High Street, or at the collection points at Sevenoaks and Edenbridge Leisure centres.  Alternatively you can complete it online below.  The survey will remain open for you to register your views.  Responses provided by the 24th January will be used in initial analysis.  If you'd like to keep up with news and progress please sign up for email alerts from us below.  

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.