KCC has been working with partners in the education sector to find a solution to a problem that was not of the Council’s making.
When the Department for Education (DfE) followed KCC’s advice last year and split the former Oasis Academy into two new academies, they also reduced the overall admissions numbers of the new schools; a move that went against KCC’s advice.
The reduced admissions numbers meant that on National Secondary School Offer Day on 3 March, 56 families from the Isle of Sheppey had to be allocated schools off the island as there were not enough places available.
To help overcome the shortage of school places on the Isle of Sheppey, KCC is investing into both Leigh Academy Minster and Swale Academies Trust to open up 60 more spaces for Year 7 pupils.
Following constructive discussions with Leigh Academy Minster, 30 more places will be allocated to families in accordance with the Academy's admissions policy.
KCC is working to identify how this will change the recent school place offers that were made and will start to contact families who may benefit from the additional places early next week.
It will be necessary to discuss offers with families, so it will take some time for all changes to be made.
We therefore ask that parents wait to hear from us, as we will not have the answers to questions before the time that we are in a position to contact them.
Rory Love, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: “Although this problem was not of our making, I am pleased that KCC has been able to work with Leigh Academy Minster to secure 30 more school places on the Isle of Sheppey.
“I should like to thank the Academy for their positive response towards resolving the problem that parents faced.
“I am also grateful to Swale Academies Trust for working with us positively towards creating further school places in Sittingbourne
“I warned the Department for Education last year that these two new academies on the island were likely to attract far more pupils than the previous failing school, and the admissions numbers should not have been reduced.
“It gives me no pleasure to say I was right, but at least we have been able to resolve most of the problem both for now and for future years.”
