The Motion, as printed in the Agenda, was proposed by Councillor Halden and seconded by Councillor MacPherson. The Motion read as follows:

“Thurrock Council adopts the official position of being pro grammar school and desires that Thurrock children should have access to them.

The Authority should actively pursue / explore opportunities for grammar schools to expand into Thurrock via an annex”.

Councillor Halden introduced the motion, and in doing so, explained that if Grammar Schools were expanded into Thurrock, parents would have greater choice, competition and diversity. He felt that the argument that grammar schools were selective and elitist was purely ideological as schools already streamed children and young people by creating different sets dependent on ability.

Councillor Halden reported that 96 students in Thurrock had grammar school offers and that Thurrock pupils had to compete among thousands of others for Grammar School places, therefore he argued that a Grammar School should be created so as not to deny local choice and leave people out.

Councillor Kerin remarked that he respected Councillor Halden’s commitment to education but felt that local authorities should prioritise two criteria; firstly that schools should be established in areas where they were needed and secondly that the local authority should work to ensure that all schools  were ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. He felt that the motion did not support these principles and had concerns with Members taking on individual pet projects, which could sometimes lead to unintended consequences, and that legislation prevented local authorities from opening schools.

Councillor J. Kent observed that the motion contradicted national Conservative Party policy and felt that it would damage every one of Thurrock’s secondary schools. He argued that Thurrock free schools, maintained schools and academies were improving and working collaboratively with each other.

Members were advised that the Head Teacher of the Harris Academy won the achievement of ‘Head Teacher of the Year’ and Councillor J. Kent felt that the motion would send a message to such people that their work was somehow not good enough and that a Grammar School was needed, which was not the case.

Councillor J. Kent further reported that local authorities were responsible for ensuring that there were sufficient school places in the Borough and to work with partners to develop free schools; he felt that to support the motion would be to put such work on hold and that instead Members should focus on improving current schools so that every Thurrock child had the opportunity to access a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ education.

At 9.16 pm, the Deputy Mayor moved a motion to suspend Council Procedure Rule 11.1 to allow the meeting to continue beyond the 2 ½ hour time limit until

10.00 pm. Members indicated their agreement to the proposal.

Councillor Johnson did not agree with the sentiments made by Councillor J. Kent and argued that the motion would not put a stop to the good work the authority was already undertaking but allow greater choice for Thurrock pupils.

Councillor Snell observed that he would be supporting the motion, which was in line with UKIP party politics, and that it would send a message to Grammar School providers that Thurrock would look favourably on any proposal to develop provision in the Borough.

Councillor Gledhill stated that it was not right to hold back opportunities for Thurrock pupils to access Grammar School places and that the motion encouraged choice; although he agreed with Councillor Kerin that every school in the Borough should be ‘good’ or ‘outstanding.’

Councillor Pothecary remarked that she would not be in support of the motion, with concerns about wealthy parents paying for private tuition to help their children get through the selection tests necessary to get into grammar schools. She argued that there should be a move away from testing children at 10 years of age rather than encouraging it.

Councillor B. Rice argued that she did not want to see the Borough go back to a Grammar School system which disadvantaged those people who did not attend Grammar Schools.

A further detailed debate took place during which a number of Members spoke in favour of Grammar Schools, which they argued offered greater choice, and others who were against as it would disproportionately disadvantage those from lower income backgrounds.

Councillor MacPherson commended the fact that all Members were passionate about education in Thurrock but argued that there was no one size fits all provision, and as a result the possibility of Grammar School expansion into Thurrock should be explored.

Upon being put to the vote, 29 Members voted in favour of the Motion, 16 Members voted against and none abstained, whereupon the Deputy Mayor declared the motion to be carried.

RESOLVED:

Thurrock Council adopts the official position of being pro grammar school and desires that Thurrock children should have access to them.

The Authority should actively pursue / explore opportunities for grammar schools to expand into Thurrock via an annex.