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Strategic Plan for Provision of Kent Secondary School Places

2007-2017

This page summarises some of the key issues raised in this important KCC document, planning for the future. It was compiled in 2007, so some information is already out of date.

Currently 28% of children in Kent schools attend Kent's 33 grammar schools, as detailed in the table below. The table also shows the high proportion of mainly grammar school children who come into West Kent grammar schools from other places, mainly from outside Kent, but partly from other Kent and Medway districts.

DistrictGrammarNon-GrammarTotalGrammar %

OtherPlaces %

Ashford157348106383256
Canterbury2069623183002517
Dartford2744408968334037
Dover1769513269012611
Gravesham1458523766952216
Maidstone3340631096503522
Sevenoaks024992499023
Shepway154340085551283
Swale180963418150226
Thanet195659727928253
Tonbridge & M2159529274512942
Tunbridge Wells2673446771403741
TOTAL2309360388834812819
 

Proposals for change include the following (note that PAN is Planned Admission Number, BSF is Building Schools for the Future - government rebuilding programme, PFI is Private Finance Initiative):

Ashford

North School, being rebuilt under PFI: PAN: 2006 - 150, 2007 - 180; 2008 onwards - 200 rising to 240.

Christ Church CE High School: PAN 2006 - 180; 207 - 240

Canterbury

Montgomery School is planned to change from 90 intake to 120 taking on Academy status in 2007. Currently has 300 pupils, lowest roll in Kent.

Dartford

Dartford Technology College (girls) moves into new premises in september 2007.

Axton Chase School to reduce PAN from 210 to 180 in 2009 as it moves into new buildings (Axton Chawee is now to become a City Academy).

Swan Valley School reducing PAN from 180 to 150 in September 2007 (leaving it with a surplus of 170 in total).

Leigh City Technology college to become a City Academy in September 2007.

Dover

No specific proposals, but it is anticipated removing some seven forms of entry by 2016.

Gravesham

Northfleet School for Girls reducing PAN from 200 to 175 in September 2008.

Northfleet Technology College to be completely rebuilt under BSF by 2010.

St George's CE School to be completely rebuilt by 2010 under BSF. PAN to reduce from 210 to 180 in 2008.

St John's RC Comprehensive School to be completely rebuilt by 2010 under BSF. PAN to reduce from 195 to 180.

Thamesview School to be completely rebuilt under BSF by 2010. PAN has reduced from 195 to 180, now to be further reduced to 150.

Gravesend Grammar School: PAN reduced from 150 to 140 for September 2008.

Gravesend Grammar School for Girls: PAN reduced from 145 to 140 for September 2008.

The plan states that: the long term future of Meopham School and Wrotham School are closely linked with the clear implication that one will be closed. It is possible that Meopham will be partly rebuilt under BSF with a reduced PAN from 152 to 140.

Maidstone

Cornwallis School to become an Academy for September 2007.

Senacre Technology College & Oldborough Manor Community School to be replaced by a new Academy in September 2007 on the Oldborough Manor site (effectively closing Senacre). PAN to reduce from 290 to 210.

Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks is unique in Kent, having no grammar schools, a high proportion of able pupils attending independent schools, others exporting to Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells. Many Swanley & Hextable children attend grammar schools in Dartford.

Swanley Technology College has a surplus of 45% places. There is a suggestion that its future may not be viable. 300 places are planned for removal.

Shepway

Folkestone Academy, replacing Channel School in new premises opens September 2007, capacity increasing from 180 to 240.

Marsh Academy replacing Southlands School in September 2007. Reduction from 240 places to 180.

Swale

Proposals for an Academy on Sheppey, replacing The Minster College, have not yet been agreed.

Thanet

The new Marlowe Academy is proving popular.

There is a current surplus capacity of 10%, expected to grow to 20%. A likely outcome of current discussions is a merger between Clarendon House Grammar School & Chatham House Grammar School, and also between The Hereson School & Ellington School for Girls (currently being rebuilt under PFI).

Tonbridge & Malling

Malling School, Aylesford School and Holmesdale Technolgy College currently being rebuilt under PFI. Malling School is currently over half empty. There is speculation that a Federation between Holmesdale & Malling School will make the latter more attractive, including pupils from Medway. Discussions are under way how the surplus capacity at Malling can be used.

Hillview School: PAN incresed from 182 to 208 for September 2007.

Tunbridge Wells

Some 3000 pupils attending TW schools are from other parts of Kent, with 600 from out of County.

Tunbridge Wells High School is less than half full. Its PAN has been reduced from 210 to 180 for September 2007, with proposals for a further reduction to 120 in the longer term. It is being considered for Academy status.

There is surplus capacity at both Cranbrook School & Angley School, even though Cranbrook School (grammar) takes significant numbers from the independent sector at its normal age of entry 13 years. The Plan states (correctly) that any proposals for tackling falling rolls in th eareas would be highly controversial.