KCC asks government for urgent update on progress of two special schools planned for Kent 

In July 2023, KCC received the welcome news that the government had approved the creation of a 250 place Special Free School in Swanley, and a 120 place Special Free School in Whitstable.

However, since then little progress has been made by the Department for Education (DfE) casting doubts over the future of the projects.

The additional places created by the school would help to relieve pressure on existing SEN provisions in North Kent, minimise costs by reducing our reliance on independent schools, and help us ensure all children have access to the high-quality education provisions they deserve.

In the letter to Bridget Phillipson, Cllr Fordham asked for “urgent confirmation” on the status of the two schools instead of “being left to guess” what is happening.

The letter said: “The process to introduce these schools has been incredibly protracted with limited information forthcoming from colleagues within the DfE.

“The original anticipated date for the opening of the two schools was September 2026. Whilst we recognise that was an ambitious target, at the time of approval being given, no concerns were raised by the DfE or Ministers, regarding the ability to achieve that timeline.

“It has since transpired that, should these schools continue to be progressed, the earliest they could open would be late in 2028.

“This delay will considerably hinder our efforts to achieve the requirements within the safety valve contract, as the additional SEN places created by the two schools, are needed to significantly reduce our reliance on more expensive placements into the independent sector.

“I would appreciate urgent confirmation of the status of the two schools. By being left to guess what may or may not be happening is not in any way satisfactory or acceptable, as KCC continues to work tirelessly in improving SEN provision across the county.”

The full letter reads as follows:

Dear Secretary of State,

I write to seek urgent clarification on the status and progress of the two new Special Free Schools that were approved for Kent, in support of the authority’s Safety Valve contract requirements.

On 5th July 2023, Kent County Council (KCC) received the welcome news that the then Secretary of State for Education had approved the creation of a 250 place Special Free School in Swanley and a 120 placed Special Free School in Whitstable. However, from that point on, the process to introduce these schools has been incredibly protracted with limited information forthcoming from colleagues within the DfE.

The decisions concerning the trusts appointed to operate the schools were not made until May 2024 and since that time, the only progress that appears to have been made is the agreement of heads of terms for the Swanley school.

The original anticipated date for the opening of the two schools was September 2026.

Whilst we recognise that was an ambitious target, at the time of approval being given, no concerns were raised by the DfE or Ministers, regarding the ability to achieve that timeline. It has since transpired that, should these schools continue to be progressed, the earliest they could open would be late in 2028.

This delay will considerably hinder our efforts to achieve the requirements within the safety valve contract, as the additional SEN places created by the two schools, are needed to significantly reduce our reliance on more expensive placements into the independent sector.

I am aware that, in May 2025, you received a letter from Simon Beamish (CEO Leigh Academies Trust), requesting an urgent update on progress of the Swanley School.

However, the response he received from Stephen Morgan, Minister for Early Education was nothing more than a holding response with no commitment provided.

Throughout the period since the providers were appointed, Kent County Council officers have worked hard to maintain communications with colleagues within the DfE, introducing periodic catch up meetings to discuss progress, whilst working hard in the background to ensure the sites are remediated to a standard that will allow DfE contractors to take on the site and commence their work unhindered. However, to date we have seen no further progress in appointing the relevant technical teams and arranging times to actually visit the sites.

I acknowledge that the Whitstable school has been delayed for other reasons. Primarily due to an ongoing dispute over village green status for the proposed site. However, there is absolutely no reason for the continued delays to the scheme in Swanley.

I am fully aware of the Government’s proposed SEN reforms, which we look forward to seeing the detail of later this year, but I am also concerned that it is in fact the Government’s intention to reverse a number of the decisions to introduce new specialist provision across the country and that is the reason for the lack of progress.

For this reason, I would appreciate urgent confirmation of the status of the two schools, so that we can effectively plan for whatever the outcome may be. By being left to guess what may or may not be happening is not in any way satisfactory or acceptable, as Kent County Council continues to work tirelessly in improving SEN provision across the County.

If however, the delay is simply down to difficulty in resourcing the project, Kent County Council has always made it clear to DfE colleagues that we would be open to managing such projects as long as the relevant funding agreements could be put in place. I would also welcome your thoughts on this proposal.

I look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Beverley Fordham

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, County Councillor for Dartford West