A council has approved a multi-million budget to make three grammar schools mixed gender with overwhelming approval from councillors.

A consultation carried out by Medway Council saw public opinion divided on the possibility of admitting boys into all-girls' schools Fort Pitt Grammar and Chatham Grammar, and girls into all-boys' school Holcombe Grammar.

In response to the the eight-week consultation results, held from May 3 until June 26, council members at a meeting on Thursday, November 10,have agreed on a £2.5m budget to accommodate changes to the schools if the plans are approved.

The consultation saw 67 responses in total – with 31 approvals, 32 objections, and four neutral responses – including letters of support from Medway and North Kent MAT Alliance, and the trusts' chief executives.

The change was proposed to even out the numbers of grammar school places for boys and girls in Medway, and if it goes ahead will take effect from September 2024, with all current incumbent year groups remaining single-sex for the rest of their school journey.

Medway has six grammar schools, but only one – Rainham Mark – is mixed gender, while there are three girls' schools and two boys' schools.

This meant that in September 2021, Year 7 pupils had 383 boys' spaces, 475 girls' spaces, and 235 co-educational spots in Medway.

The summary report on the outcome of the consultation said a maximum of 25% of Medway's Year 6 pupils can attend selective schools in the Towns if they pass the Medway Test, known as the 11-plus, in line with the capacity of boys' spaces.

But Medway's grammar schools have the capacity to cater for roughly 28% of the pupil population, meaning the remaining all-girls' schools spots are filled by pupils outside the area.

By reducing Medway's number of single-sex grammar schools to just two – The Rochester Grammar School for girls, and Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, known as the Math, for boys – there will be an even split of boys' and girls' spaces.

In turn, more Medway pupils will be able to pass the Medway Test, so more local pupils will be able to fill the spaces, rather than children from outside the area.

The change would also put less pressure on non-selective schools and allow better use of their resources.

It is also hoped it will reduce traffic on Medway's busy roads, as pupils would have more opportunity to attend their nearest school, which would benefit Medway's air quality, an issue the council has said it is committed to improving.

Mixed school Rainham Mark has found itself oversubscribed for several years, and it had the highest number of first preferences for prospective Year 7 pupils of any Medway grammar school.

One drop-in session was held at each of the three schools during the consultation period, but none saw a significant turn-out, with only one person at Holcombe, five at Fort Pitt, and none at all at Chatham Grammar.

While the final decision on whether the change will go ahead is in the hands of the Regional Schools Commissioner, both Tory and Labour council members approved the multi-million pound budget which would go towards facilitating any physical changes required by the schools.

Cllr Vince Maple (Lab), who supported the decision, also raised concerns that a number of his residents had written to him about three coaches bringing pupils to a school in his ward, Chatham Central, and "parking inconsiderately".

He added: "That's not the fault of the school, it's not the fault of the coach company, and it's certainly not the fault of the kids. The coaches have been organised by the parents who don't live in Medway, so that's very, very frustrating."

He continued that while he is working with portfolio holder for front line services, Cllr Phil Filmer (Con), to provide a solution to these transport concerns, this is just a "microexample of some of the pressures" the schools in question are facing.

Tory councillor Elizabeth Turpin also supported the decision, saying she has been pushing to increase the number of Medway children being able to access the area's grammar schools "for some time".

She added: "The number of pupils coming into our schools from outside our area is high, and I don't mean those on the boundary of Medway, but where children are coming from quite some distance into our schools."

Cllr Rupert Turpin (Con) said: "Having been to a grammar school myself and a single-sex school, I think it is a good idea and a really modernising idea.

"The schools would probably be better for the social development of the children if they are in a mixed environment."

Before the Regional Schools commissioner can approve the decision, schools will also need to carry out formal consultations on changing their admissions arrangements.

Cllr Martin Potter (Con), portfolio holder for education and schools, added that the council has also been working with Medway's grammar schools to change their admissions process, to prioritise distance rather than the 11-plus score, which will also boost the number of local pupils able to attend the area's schools.