The decision enables work to move ahead on the design and development of the new school, which will support a fast-growing community and help meet rising demand for primary places.
Paddock Wood is a growing community, with significant new housing in recent years and more planned for the future. That growth is already being seen in the number of young families choosing to live in the town. The pre-school population in the area has risen by over 40% since 2020, and is expected to continue increasing over the next few years.
Without additional school places in the future, many local children are likely to have to travel around six miles to find a school place, often outside their immediate community. A new local school will help families stay connected to their community, reduce travel, and ensure children can learn closer to home.
Beverley Fordham, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “This is a really positive step forward for Paddock Wood and the families who live there.
‘This decision is about planning ahead and making sure that as our communities grow, we are providing the school places that children and families need, close to home.
‘We are already seeing the impact of significant housebuilding in the town, and with almost 2,000 more homes planned for the town by the Borough Council over the next decade, that growth is only set to continue. Moving forward now means we can get on with designing a new school that meets the needs of this growing community.”
Earlier this year, KCC undertook an informal public consultation, going beyond statutory requirements to engage residents, schools and stakeholders at an early stage.
The majority of responses recognised the need for additional school places to support the town’s growth, particularly among local residents and parents.
This feedback is helping to shape the next phase of the project, ensuring that plans for the new school are developed in a way that reflects both the opportunities and the challenges identified by the community.
Beverley added: “Although we weren’t required to consult at this stage, we chose to carry out an informal consultation to hear from residents and stakeholders.
‘We’ve listened carefully to that feedback and the evidence is clear: demand is rising, and a new school is needed to support this growing community.
‘This decision is an important step forward, allowing us to move ahead with the design of the new school. As we develop those plans, there will be further opportunities for the community to have their say through a statutory consultation.”
The decision now allows the project to progress to the next phase, which will include developing detailed designs for the school and bringing forward planning proposals.
Once the design and consultation stages are complete, the proposals will return to the Cabinet Member for a final decision on delivery.
The new school forms part of KCC’s wider work to ensure there are sufficient, high-quality school places across Kent, particularly in areas experiencing rapid housing growth, and to support strong, sustainable communities.
*Please note: the image at the top is indicative and was produced prior to the completion of the full detailed works
