Free Schools announcement
16 July 2012
Four new free schools could be ready to open as early as September
2013.
The Department for Education agreed that each of the four
applications could go forward to the next stage.
The school proposals that will go forward to the next stage of the
process are:
- Hadlow Rural Community School, a secondary school for girls and
boys (aged 11 to 16) with a capacity of 180 pupils in Hadlow
- The Wells Free Schools, a primary school for girls and boys
(aged 4 to 11) with a capacity of 154 pupils in Tunbridge
Wells
- The Sevenoaks Free School, a secondary school for girls and
boys (aged 11 to 18) with a capacity of 790 pupils for Sevenoaks –
planned as a non-denominational Christian school
- Wye Free School, a secondary school for girls and boys (aged 11
to 19) with a capacity of 600 pupils for Sevenoaks – with a
Christian ethos
As part of the application process, the county council will be
asked for its views on what impact the new schools would have on
each local area. While any final decision on whether new free
schools can be created rests with the Department for Education, KCC
will be in touch with the applicants to offer any relevant
support.
Mike Whiting, KCC Cabinet member for
Education, Learning and Skills, said: “Kent’s children go to a wide
variety of different schools, from primary and secondary academies
to independent schools and those maintained by the local
authority.
“The principle of free schools is not going to revolutionise the
way KCC approaches education and our priority will remain to see
every child provided with the encouragement and opportunity that is
right for them – so they can achieve their potential and be
prepared for adulthood.
“At the same time, we will be looking thoroughly at the impact
that each new school might have on its community and surrounding
area – and we will take great care to make sure that we consider
the best interests of Kent’s children in the way we respond.
“KCC officers will be in touch with the applicants to offer them
any relevant support.”