Plans are in place for children who can't sit the Kent Test because coronavirus, says KCC

Arrangements will be in place for children unable to sit this week's Kent Test because of reasons related to coronavirus, Kent County Council has confirmed.

The local authority said it is aware of a 'limited number' of pupils whose testing arrangements will have to be altered because they cannot sit the grammar school assessment this Thursday (October 15).

A positive case forces school classes or bubbles to have to isolate for 14 days
A positive case forces school classes or bubbles to have to isolate for 14 days

The Kent Test would ordinarily take place in September but this year has been pushed back by a month to allow children greater time to settle back into school following lockdown and the 6-month long closure of classrooms to the majority of pupils.

Kent pupils will instead sit the Kent Test this Thursday (October 15) and out of county applicants wishing to be considered for a place at a Kent grammar school will sit the examination from Saturday, October 17.

KCC says children must not attend any assessment if they are in a period of self-isolation because they either tested positive for the virus or have come into contact with a positive Covid19 case. They must not also arrive for the test if they exhibit any coronavirus symptoms on the day.

Craig Chapman, Interim Head of Fair Access, at KCC said: "If children cannot attend, arrangements will be made for them to sit the test when it is safe for them to do so. Details of these arrangements will be communicated to schools and families on an individual basis as soon as they become needed.

"It is too early to confirm how many pupils will sit the test this week. We are already aware of a limited number of pupils whose testing arrangements will have to be altered for reasons relating to COVID-19. We are working with schools and centres to finalise alternative plans and these will be communicated directly to the parents/carers of those children shortly."

Plans are in place, says KCC, for any pupil or class group who can't sit the Kent Test this Thursday
Plans are in place, says KCC, for any pupil or class group who can't sit the Kent Test this Thursday

Alongside the delay of the Kest Test, the number of secondary schools parents can list on their application form has also increased from four to six for this year.

Mr Chapman added: "The number of secondary schools a family can name on their child’s Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) has been increased from four to six for one year only, enabling parents to name up to two additional grammar schools without reducing the number of non-selective schools on their application.

"Parents and carers are free to name as many grammar or non-selective schools as they wish. The SCAF must be returned to KCC by midnight on the evening of Monday, November 2."

Further information about secondary applications in Kent can be found at www.kent.gov.uk

Read more education news from around the county by clicking here.

For more family-releated news from across Kent visit My Kent Family at www.mykentfamily.co.uk

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