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Grammar school decision likely to spur more bids for 'satellite' developments Grammar school decision likely to spur more bids for 'satellite' developments
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The government’s controversial decision to approve the first selective school in 50 years looks set to prompt a series of similar applications for “satellite” developments to existing grammar schools.The government’s controversial decision to approve the first selective school in 50 years looks set to prompt a series of similar applications for “satellite” developments to existing grammar schools.
A school in Buckinghamshire is likely to be one of the first to use the decision to approve a new 450-pupil grammar school in Sevenoaks, Kent, to push forward plans for a similar extension on a satellite site.A school in Buckinghamshire is likely to be one of the first to use the decision to approve a new 450-pupil grammar school in Sevenoaks, Kent, to push forward plans for a similar extension on a satellite site.
After months of legal wrangling, the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, is expected to give the go-ahead on Thursday to an extension of the Weald of Kent girls’ grammar school in Tonbridge, in the face of what will be stiff legal and political opposition.After months of legal wrangling, the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, is expected to give the go-ahead on Thursday to an extension of the Weald of Kent girls’ grammar school in Tonbridge, in the face of what will be stiff legal and political opposition.
Related: Kent grammar: what you need to know about the first new selective school in 50 yearsRelated: Kent grammar: what you need to know about the first new selective school in 50 years
Among those watching closely and awaiting the decision are councillors and council officials in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, who have been hatching their own plans for a grammar school, despite a ban on opening new selective schools brought in under Tony Blair.Among those watching closely and awaiting the decision are councillors and council officials in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, who have been hatching their own plans for a grammar school, despite a ban on opening new selective schools brought in under Tony Blair.
As in Kent, the new school will be a “satellite” in Berkshire – and therefore treated as an extension – of an existing grammar school in neighbouring Buckinghamshire. Sir William Borlase’s grammar school in nearby Marlow has expressed an interest in being involved.As in Kent, the new school will be a “satellite” in Berkshire – and therefore treated as an extension – of an existing grammar school in neighbouring Buckinghamshire. Sir William Borlase’s grammar school in nearby Marlow has expressed an interest in being involved.
Phillip Bicknell, a Tory councillor in Windsor and Maidenhead and lead member on education, said: “We are trying to provide all of the residents with choice, so they can choose what school they think is best for their children.”Phillip Bicknell, a Tory councillor in Windsor and Maidenhead and lead member on education, said: “We are trying to provide all of the residents with choice, so they can choose what school they think is best for their children.”
Windsor and Maidenhead has nine state secondaries – including middle schools – and 187 pupils currently travel out of borough to grammar schools in nearby Slough and Marlow every day.Windsor and Maidenhead has nine state secondaries – including middle schools – and 187 pupils currently travel out of borough to grammar schools in nearby Slough and Marlow every day.
“That’s taking a lot of time out of their day. What we believe is that we can have a satellite grammar. We have a grammar school in Marlow that is prepared to get involved.”“That’s taking a lot of time out of their day. What we believe is that we can have a satellite grammar. We have a grammar school in Marlow that is prepared to get involved.”
The council took a decision three weeks ago to hold back further plans for the school, which would have required an investment of £100,000, until a final decision was reached on the Weald of Kent grammar school extension.The council took a decision three weeks ago to hold back further plans for the school, which would have required an investment of £100,000, until a final decision was reached on the Weald of Kent grammar school extension.
The Kent decision has been pending since last year but was delayed in the run-up to the election in May, and further delayed by Downing Street’s insistence that legal advice had to be robust enough to avoid any embarrassing failure in the courts. The Kent decision has been pending since last year but was delayed in the runup to the election in May, and further delayed by Downing Street’s insistence that legal advice had to be robust enough to avoid any embarrassing failure in the courts.
At the heart of the legal opposition is the distance between the new site in Sevenoaks and the host school, Weald of Kent, in Tonbridge. The Times, which broke the news that the government is to approve the new school, reports that it will attempt to get around the legal objections by bussing pupils and staff between the two sites on a weekly basis.At the heart of the legal opposition is the distance between the new site in Sevenoaks and the host school, Weald of Kent, in Tonbridge. The Times, which broke the news that the government is to approve the new school, reports that it will attempt to get around the legal objections by bussing pupils and staff between the two sites on a weekly basis.
Related: Conservatives give green light to first grammar school in half a centuryRelated: Conservatives give green light to first grammar school in half a century
“It’s not about whether we agree with grammar schools or not. It’s about parental choice,” said Bicknell. “There are already nearly 200 children with parents that have decided they want a grammar school education. We have a school that’s interested. Everybody is ready to go to the next stage.”“It’s not about whether we agree with grammar schools or not. It’s about parental choice,” said Bicknell. “There are already nearly 200 children with parents that have decided they want a grammar school education. We have a school that’s interested. Everybody is ready to go to the next stage.”
According to Bicknell, the distance between the host school in Marlow and the proposed satellite would be substantially less than that in Kent – three or four miles as opposed to nine – but the council is yet to decide on a final location. He said he believed there was “overwhelming support from parents” for more grammar school places.According to Bicknell, the distance between the host school in Marlow and the proposed satellite would be substantially less than that in Kent – three or four miles as opposed to nine – but the council is yet to decide on a final location. He said he believed there was “overwhelming support from parents” for more grammar school places.
The news drew sharp criticism from Labour’s shadow education secretary, Lucy Powell, who accused the Conservatives of sabotaging its efforts to use education to counteract the effects of disadvantage.The news drew sharp criticism from Labour’s shadow education secretary, Lucy Powell, who accused the Conservatives of sabotaging its efforts to use education to counteract the effects of disadvantage.
“Having made social mobility the centre of his conference speech, David Cameron should look at the clear evidence on grammar schools: they do not increase equality of opportunity, they make it worse,” said Powell.“Having made social mobility the centre of his conference speech, David Cameron should look at the clear evidence on grammar schools: they do not increase equality of opportunity, they make it worse,” said Powell.
“Tiny numbers of children from disadvantaged backgrounds pass their tests because they are the preserve of the privately tutored. This is a hugely backward step from a prime minister who we see once again saying one thing but doing the opposite.”“Tiny numbers of children from disadvantaged backgrounds pass their tests because they are the preserve of the privately tutored. This is a hugely backward step from a prime minister who we see once again saying one thing but doing the opposite.”
Education experts argue that there is no research evidence to support well-rehearsed arguments that grammar schools aid social mobility. Stephen Gorard, professor of education at Durham University, said: “There is repeated evidence that any appearance of advantage for those attending selective schools is outweighed by the disadvantage for those who do not. More children lose out than gain, and the attainment gaps between highest and lowest and between richest and poorest are larger.Education experts argue that there is no research evidence to support well-rehearsed arguments that grammar schools aid social mobility. Stephen Gorard, professor of education at Durham University, said: “There is repeated evidence that any appearance of advantage for those attending selective schools is outweighed by the disadvantage for those who do not. More children lose out than gain, and the attainment gaps between highest and lowest and between richest and poorest are larger.
“Three things need to be established before selection by ability, such as is used in a grammar school system, can be promoted in an ethical manner. Selective schools must be shown to be more effective than non-selective ones. Then the largely disregarded rump of such a system, the secondary modern schools, must be shown to be at least as effective as non-selective schools. And the overall benefits must outweigh any unintended harmful side effects.“Three things need to be established before selection by ability, such as is used in a grammar school system, can be promoted in an ethical manner. Selective schools must be shown to be more effective than non-selective ones. Then the largely disregarded rump of such a system, the secondary modern schools, must be shown to be at least as effective as non-selective schools. And the overall benefits must outweigh any unintended harmful side effects.
“None of these three things has been established. Given the dangers, and the lack of evidence of any benefit at all, selection by ability is currently the very antithesis of an evidence-informed policy.”“None of these three things has been established. Given the dangers, and the lack of evidence of any benefit at all, selection by ability is currently the very antithesis of an evidence-informed policy.”
Adam Swift, professor of political theory at Warwick university, said he was unaware of any empirical research to support the claim that grammars increase social mobility.Adam Swift, professor of political theory at Warwick university, said he was unaware of any empirical research to support the claim that grammars increase social mobility.
“There is no evidence that comprehensive schools have been worse for social mobility than the selective schools they replaced, nor that expanding selection would bring about an increase in mobility.““There is no evidence that comprehensive schools have been worse for social mobility than the selective schools they replaced, nor that expanding selection would bring about an increase in mobility.“
The issue of grammar schools has long been a faultline within the Tory party, although Michael Gove as education secretary had moved the party well away from supporting selection. He rejected an earlier attempt by Weald of Kent grammar school to expand.The issue of grammar schools has long been a faultline within the Tory party, although Michael Gove as education secretary had moved the party well away from supporting selection. He rejected an earlier attempt by Weald of Kent grammar school to expand.
But since Gove’s departure from the education department the revival of grammar schools has been backed by senior figures, such as Theresa May and Boris Johnson. But since Gove’s departure from the education department, the revival of grammar schools has been backed by senior figures such as Theresa May and Boris Johnson.
Meanwhile, teaching unions and activists condemned the move, with several groups already preparing for a sustained legal battle over a possible breach of the law banning the opening of new selective state schools.Meanwhile, teaching unions and activists condemned the move, with several groups already preparing for a sustained legal battle over a possible breach of the law banning the opening of new selective state schools.
The official announcement on Thursday will come in the form of a written ministerial statement to parliament on Thursday morning, although a spokesperson for the DfE refused to comment on the decision ahead of time. The official announcement on Thursday will come in the form of a written ministerial statement to parliament on Thursday morning, although a spokesperson for the DfE refused to comment on the decision before time.