PRIMARY headteachers in Dover and Deal say Kent’s 11-plus is disruptive, wastes too much of their time and demotivates pupils.

The East Kent heads have spoken out because of their frustration at what they say are constant changes to the admissions process in Kent.

They say responsibility for organising and managing the 11-plus test should be handed to secondary schools to ease the burden on primaries.

At the same time, they have voiced serious reservations about the county council’s plans to introduce a system of continuous assessment to replace the 11-plus.

The catalogue of criticisms comes in a discussion paper prepared by the Dover, Deal and Sandwich Council of Headteachers, which has been sent to Kent County Council’s education director Graham Badman.

In it, they say they have “significant concerns” about the way the test is run and want to “record our deep professional concerns and reservations with regard to the process for secondary transfer".

The paper highlights a range of problems caused by the 11-plus, including disruption to normal lessons for Year Six pupils, time spent explaining the “ever-changing selection arrangements” to parents and the time spent invigilating the tests.

Most damagingly, the heads say the focus on the 11-plus could be one of the main reasons why the results of Key Stage 2 tests in Kent primary schools are so poor.

Ian Sheppard, head of Dover’s Aycliffe School, said heads had decided to voice their concerns because of mounting confusion caused by changes to the operation of the 11-plus in recent years.

“It makes it hugely difficult for us to explain the process to parents and to ensure they get the best for their children. It is difficult enough for us to get our heads around some aspects and it can be very difficult for parents to keep track of the changes.”

The heads urge KCC to consider opting for a system in which all parents taking the 11-plus do so at the grammar schools at one particular weekend, as they do in Dover.

“These tests do not intrude on curriculum time in Year Six, do not hijack the Year Six national curriculum and create no extra workload or disruption for primary schools,” they state.

Cllr Paul Carter, KCC's cabinet member for education, said he was happy to consider any proposals which could improve the system but “selection was a given” in Kent and not up for discussion.

“No system is ever perfect and can sometimes be improved, so I am happy to have a debate. We will consider all options,” he said.