Press Releases for 2004

CALL FOR CONSULTATION TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN KENT

13th February 2004

East Kent Green Party is calling for a public consultation by Kent County Council on the problems of education in Kent. Repeated comments by a variety of organisations over a 20 year period have not led to effective reform of Kent's much-criticised 11-plus and grammar school system. Hazel Dawe comments:

"Kent's secondary education has been subjected to two recent critical assessments. Reports by OFSTED and the Audit Commission indicate major problems which have yet to be addressed. The County has higher proportions of primary and secondary schools in special measures than the national average (1). It is particularly disturbing that the Audit Commission noted that the lowest performance secondary schools (2) are the secondary moderns labelled 'community schools' in Kent. This amounts to discrimination against those who do not pass or take the Kent Test. 32 out of 35 County education authorities were judged by the Audit Commission to have improved in 2003, but not Kent. The apparent crisis of Kent's education needs a thorough, sober assessment by the public and all interested groups so that effective solutions can be implemented rapidly.

"The County Council seems more interested in defending grammar schools than responding effectively to serious criticisms which influence the future of Kent's children. Green Party local solutions would include introducing sixth forms into all secondary schools to reduce the need of sixth formers to travel long-distances to school; introducing more technical and vocational education into schooling; transferring most responsibilities for education from the County Council to district councils (3)." ENDS C269 words

FURTHER INFORMATION: Hazel Dawe, Campaigns Officer, on 01233 645167 or 07960 956272. Contact address: 10 Hillbrow Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 4QH.

Notes: 1. Ofsted report on Kent, 2003. At present, 10 primary and 4 secondary schools are in special measures in Kent. This is 2.1% of primary schools and 3.8% of secondary. This compares with national averages of 1.1% for primaries, and 1.4% for secondaries. See also Wrong Division Roy Hattersley The Guardian 3rd February 2004. 2. In terms of value-added assessment. 3. East and West Kent Green Parties Kent Manifesto of 2001, education section. See also: Green Party of England and Wales - Light Years ahead: Green Party policies for children's education (January, 2002).

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