insideKENT Magazine Issue 96 - March 2020 | Page 127

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
EDUCATION
AN EDUCATED DECISION -
EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT
EDUCATION IN KENT
THE RIGHT EDUCATION PROVIDES A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR WHATEVER JOURNEY
LIFE TAKES US ON. AN IMPORTANT, AND SOMETIMES COMPLEX TOPIC, CHOOSING
THE RIGHT EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT FOR YOUR CHILD IS OF PARAMOUNT
IMPORTANCE. BUT WHERE TO START?
In our beautiful county of Kent, we are spoilt for
choice! There are over 700 sought after grammar
offerings, world-leading independent schools
and top-class further and higher education
institutions, which represent some of the best the
UK has to offer.
Kent Schools Are Some of the
Best Performers:
Kent is a hive of world-class education institutions.
Pre-prep nursery settings, prep schools, day and
boarding upper schools, we have an impressive roster
of institutions offering a variety of qualifications,
impressive curriculums and extra-curricular activities.
According to the Knowledge Academy, Kent
has the third highest amount of children being
privately educated in the country; with just under
21,000 children taking a place at one of our 57
independent schools.
Outside of the independent sector and according to
the latest report from Ofsted (The Education,
Children’s Services and Skills Annual report
2018 /19), Kent schools were some of the top
performers. 92% of primary schools and 86% of
secondary schools were judged as good or
outstanding, exceeding the national average.
As Chris Russell, Ofsted Director for the South East
said: “Overall, the South East is a good place to be
a child. Nine out of ten schools are judged to be
good or better, and it’s great to see the proportion
of good and outstanding secondary schools rising.
Those pupils are well-placed to go onto further
education if they choose to do so. The South East
performs better than England when it comes to
further education colleges and skills providers.”
The Admissions Process
Applying for your child’s school place can seem a
daunting process. When do I need to apply? How
long after applying will I get a decision? What
admission criteria do I need to meet? What happens
if my child doesn’t get a place at their chosen school?
The list of questions can seem endless.
Well don’t worry. If you are applying to a state
funded school, the admission process in Kent is fairly
straightforward, and all the information can be found
at www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children.
If your child is looking to attend one of our amazing
grammar schools, they will need to sit the Test 11+
and be assessed to see if they are suitable.
Whilst each independent school will have its
own entry criteria, with exam entry for 11+ or 13+
entry as standard. There are also a range of bursary
and scholarship options available to support with
fees and costs.
Choosing the Right School
Finding the right school for your child is an important,
and individual, choice. The best advice is to do
your research, and there are plenty of places that
can help you.
Ofsted and the Independent School Council are
good starting points to give you an overview of
academic performance, and other sources such as
The Good Schools Guide can also provide
recommendations. Word of mouth and reputation
can help with the decision making process, but the
best way to find the right school for your child, is to
go and visit and take a look around.
You will be able to ask any questions you have, meet
the teaching staff, and get a real feel for the school
beyond just academic results. You will be able to
assess the atmosphere, ethos and culture, meet current
students and, most importantly, your child will be
able to express an opinion on how they found the
school – after all, they are the ones who will be
spending all their time there, and it is important that
they have a say in the decision.
In this education special feature, insideKENT will
provide you with the very best information, advice
and contacts you will need to help you make an
educated decision for you and your child.
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