County Councillor Roger Gough, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Education & Health Reform, attending to answer questions on school places and secondary education

The Chairman welcomed Roger Gough, the Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform to the meeting, who gave a presentation on school places, school performance, the provision of a grammar school annexe and school transport.

Mr. Gough highlighted that the rise in the birthrate across the County had meant a need to plan ahead in primary school places, with major construction, and this would in turn filter to secondary school places. The pressures in the Sevenoaks District were less severe than in other areas where there was more intensive house building. The County Council was generally within 1% in its predictions of need but it could be difficult to predict population movements. The County Council had been in discussions with Sevenoaks District Council to investigate the role of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in supporting the provision of places as although the Government expected the Basic Need capital grant allocation to cover 80% of need, in practice it covered only 50%. Kent County Council was also lobbying firmly to receive monies through the recent £300 million pot announced by the Government.

The KCC Cabinet Member added that many pupils travelled out of the District, particularly for selective education as there were no selective schools in the District but there was approximately a 40 to 50% pass rate. The traffic corridor between Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells was particularly busy. Although the provision of new grammar schools was prohibited, there were fewer restrictions on the extension of existing schools. The extension of the Weald of Kent Grammar school was still going ahead and was expected to be completed by autumn 2016. Mr. Gough then responded to questions from Members of the Committee.

The Chairman asked whether there was a reason the Young Person’s Travel Pass was limited to between 6am to 7pm when this could end before some after school clubs. The KCC Cabinet Member advised that the scheme cost approximately £13 million per year and it was hoped those hours would cover most after school activities.

Mr. Gough confirmed to the Committee that the pass only related to bus travel, not trains. He had tried to include train companies but found they were resistant and cost was also a factor. Some arrangements could be made to pay towards the travel if the school they went to was their closest. In follow-up the Chairman asked whether in the past there had been arrangements with train companies. The KCC Cabinet Member agreed that train travel would be appropriate for many of the pupils travelling from the District and would investigate what past measures there may have been.

A Member asked what prospects there were for a boys’ grammar school annexe in Sevenoaks and whether the County Council could end the super selection of grammar school pupils from outside the county. Mr Gough advised that there was not a partner for a boys’ grammar school in the same way as for girls although the County Council and Michael Fallon MP were both seeking a change in law to allow new grammar schools. The County Council had tried unsuccessfully to limit super-selection through the Schools Adjudicator four years ago.

Another Member asked whether the CIL would assist in meeting the possible shortfall of school places in Halstead. The KCC Cabinet Member confirmed that he was still having discussions with the Council as the collecting authority. It could form one part of the armoury but in other parts of the County CIL could not be relied on because development would not always be viable.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Gough for attending.