We don’t need no school selection, say 65 per cent of Hackney residents

Educational: the results of a council survey on schools policy (Picture: Hackney Council)

A nearly two thirds majority of Hackney residents oppose selection in schools, according to a new survey on education released by Hackney Council.

The report Hackney: Schools for Everyone, out yesterday, finds 65 per cent of respondents “strongly agree” that schools in the borough “should be open to all residents without educational achievement restricting entry”.

A majority oppose selection in Hackney schools (Graph: Hackney Council)

The survey is based on 2,572 responses to a consultation on education policy carried out by Hackney Council between November 2016 and July 2017.

On religion, it finds that 72 per cent of people strongly agree that “Hackney schools should be non-denominational”, while 12 per cent slightly agree.

The report notes that “there does not appear to be any correlation between those who identified as having a faith and not supporting the non-domination approach to education”.

Sixty-nine per cent strongly agree with parents electing school governors, and 60 per cent strongly agree with “compulsory registration of home schooled pupils”.

There was ‘split opinion’ on building private homes to fund new schools (Graph: Hackney Council)

The results were less conclusive about whether schools should be mixed gender. Fourteen per cent strongly agree, 26 per cent slightly agree, a quarter neither agree or disagree, while 20 per cent strongly disagree.

Just over half (54 per cent) are positive about whether “a Hackney Schools Trust should be set up between multiple Hackney academy schools”, while more than a third were neutral.

The report notes there was “split opinion” about funding new schools by building and selling private homes.

It adds that other answers suggest “issues such as population growth as a potential driver of inequality as being a reason respondents do not want to see the sale of private homes funding new schools”.

Deputy Mayor Anntoinette Bramble said grammar schools are ‘off the table’ (Photo: Hackney Council)

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Deputy Mayor of Hackney, said: “Schools in Hackney have transformed beyond recognition over the last 15 years.

“Where once we had some of the worst schools, we now have some of the very best, and to enable us to continue to improve, it’s important we understand the sorts of schools our residents want.

She added: “Grammar schools and forced academisation may be off the table for now, but they are clearly still on the government’s agenda, and the responses to this survey will inform our response to national education policies and proposals over the coming years.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views.”

You can read the Hackney: Schools for Everyone report here.