We'll never let them kill us off

Head's rally call to save grammars

NEIL SLATER: head

THE headteacher of Dover Boys' Grammar, Neil Slater, is confident parents will never want to replace his school with a comprehensive.

Mr Slater, speaking at the guest evening and prize giving for senior pupils, said such a re-organisation of grammar and high schools would be costly and disruptive.

He spoke as Kent prepares for a ballot on the future of selective education.

Mr Slater said the roll had risen steadily since the school became grant maintained five years ago.

There were 618 pupils, a figure which would rise to 650 by next September.

Mr Slater said "standards in every area of life at the school were improving, but there were fears of its structure being destroyed.

He said: "If it were just my school improving at the expense of others there might be a point, but that isn't the case.

All the schools in the area are doing an excellent job, high schools and grammar schools alike.

"My comfort is that I have faith in the common sense of the good parents of Kent who will form the electorate in any ballot.

"They will not want the turmoil that would arise from doing away with grammar schools."

He said the Government had stated it would not release any funds, the county had no money to spare and it had no plans drawn up for a reorganisation.

"Any vision of a county full of fine comprehensive schools is totally unattainable in the foreseeable future.

"We will be left with a whole series of nasty compromises," he said. Those most pleased about the prospect of grammar schools being scrapped, said Mr Slater, were the heads of independent schools.