Any School Questions - July 12 2012

On 12th July we held a community meeting at Knole Academy taking the form of a Question Time panel debate.  The panelists were:

• Mary Boyle, Principal Knole Academy
• Peter Read, Education Consultant
• Bill Latimer, Chair, Sevenoaks Christian Free School bid team
• Cllr Richard Parry, KCC

The event was supported by the Sevenoaks Chronicle and chaired by Roger Kasper, Editor.

Andrew & Sarah Shilling of the Sevenoaks Grammar School Campaign were unfortunately unable to attend.

The event was put together at short notice. It was a busy night in Sevenoaks, with a District Council meeting, various end of term school concerts and parent evenings.  We would like therefore to thank those people who were able to participate at short notice and who contributed to the quality debate.

The event was kindly recorded for us by Chris Tizzard - the video can be watched below.  Apologies for the  varying sound quality in places.

How Strong is the Community Spirit?

A copy of our letter this week in the Sevenoaks Chronicle:

I have heard it said that Sevenoaks has a strong community spirit.  Right now could be the greatest test of this assertion.  Once again significant numbers of local children have been disappointed with secondary school offers; being offered a non-selective that wasn’t on the application form or a school they’ve never heard of in Maidstone. 

This year however, something different has happened.  Knole Academy has undertaken to specifically cater for these students locally, by offering a grammar stream, a guarantee that they will be in the top streams at least until year 9.   So – this community has a choice.  It can continue to go on waiting lists and appeal for places at what will be increasingly over-crowded schools, some 9-12 miles away, or it can do something different.  I have heard of groups of 3 or 4 parents making pacts between themselves to accept the places offered at Knole.  Knole already has 11+ children in each year; what if 30 parents were prepared to make a public pact?  An entire form of grammar ability children, with such parental and peer support, working in partnership with the school would be a powerful force.  There is a lot at stake here for Knole.  Its reputation is on the line; established as an all ability school, with Sevenoaks School as a sponsor to cater for exactly this type of child – are they seriously going to allow this to fail? 

Many people discount Knole without having even stepped over the threshold.  I have heard from a wide range of people that Knole doesn’t offer triple science – a commonly held opinion that on investigation reveals itself to be untrue.  Knole won’t be the right option for all children, but perhaps for 25 – 30 of those in the nightmare situation right now, it could be. 

Can community spirit win through?

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