Greenwich Judgement

Kingston has two acute education problems - the need for more secondary places in north Kingston and a shortage of primary school places.

Whilst these are both complex problems, and a variety of solutions are needed, one change in the law would make a huge difference: overturning a 1989 ruling by the House of Lords - the so-called Greenwich Judgement.

The Greenwich Judgement makes it illegal for a council or school to allow any preference in admissions to a family living in their Borough.

Kingston has excellent schools, so, not surprisingly, we attract applications from people in Boroughs where education is less strong. While some Kingston children go to schools in other Boroughs, Kingston has mostly been a “net importer” of children.

For years now, some parents of children entering secondary have had problems getting their preferred local school. This problem is particularly difficult in north Kingston, where Tiffin Girls’ attracts children from many miles away: this year only a third of Tiffin’s new students actually live in Kingston.

Meanwhile, Kingston’s primaries this year saw a large increase in applications from out-of-Borough families. This issue was less severe for primaries, partly because parents were unwilling to see younger children traveling far. Yet, for some reason that’s still unclear but may be linked to house prices, it’s now significant.

Liberal Democrats have pressed many times for this law to be overturned, but successive Conservative and Labour Governments have refused, saying Greenwich promotes choice.

But what about the choice of Kingston parents? What about the importance of sending children to their local school - so we have stronger communities, and stop clogging up the roads? It’s time Greenwich went.