LAST week, Cranbrook School welcomed its first intake of 11 year olds for nearly 50 years for an historic and fun induction day.
The Ofsted Outstanding mixed grammar will have 30 Year 7 pupils joining in September following recent approval by the government for it to expand. The school, which up until now had a 13-plus entry level, has also announced that it will create two forms of entry from September 2018.
Chair of Governors, James Peace, said: “With Cranbrook celebrating 500 years of schooling in 2018, this is an excellent way to show that we are still moving with the times.
“All schools are looking to change to deal with financial challenges. In our case, we have also improved choice for parents by taking in Year 7s.
“Seeing Cranbrook reaching out to a wider range of schools in this way is very welcome.”
To mark the occasion, the school invited Conservative MP Helen Grant along for the day.
Like the new students, she was given a comprehensive tour of the facilities, and was also encouraged to join in on various lessons, including biology.
Following her visit, the MP for Maidstone & The Weald posted on her Twitter account: “Great to be at Cranbrook for their first Yr7 Induction Day! A historic moment, marking the start of their fifth centenary celebrations.”
Cranbrook’s catchment area contains 12 major feed primaries and three preparatory schools.
A spokesperson for the school said that all were ‘well represented’ in the new intake.
