Isle of Sheppey families anger after children given school placements in Faversham, Canterbury and Maidstone

Several parents have been left raging after their children were offered school places nearly 30 miles away from their home.

Around 50 families have been handed the bad news, with one mum fearing her 10-year-old son’s life will be “ruined” if Kent County Council (KCC) can’t place him at one of his four preferred secondary schools.

Hollie Bridges’s son Robin, from Warden Bay on the Isle of Sheppey, was hoping to go to school on the island or in Sittingbourne, but was instead offered a placement at The Abbey School in Faversham.

The school is 26.5 miles from his home and would require 90 minutes on public transport as Ms Bridges can’t take him.

The 42-year-old mum said: “There isn’t the public transport to get him there unless they put him on a boat across the water.

“He can’t get there. There’s just no way. It’s a 40 minute drive just to get there. I have another child and work full-time, plus there’s the cost of fuel.”

Speaking about being told the news on Monday, Ms Bridges said: “We were really upset.

“My son was crying and confused. It’s really sad. If he doesn’t get a school close to us he won’t be going and then his life is ruined.”

The Sheppey mum says she has appealed the decision – which has been described as “long-winded and confusing” – and feels parents have been left with the burden of sorting out the problem by KCC.

Ms Bridges says the county council has been “no help” and has called on the likes of EKC and Leigh Academy to create more spaces for children on the island.

“Some pupils from Sittingbourne have been given a space but those on the island have missed out,” she added.

Chanttel Norgate’s daughter was also offered a place at the Abbey School – a 30 minute drive from their home.

‘Finding out the news on Monday was absolutely devastating – it was heartbreaking...’

The 40-year-old said: “It will completely up end her life. She has after school clubs she does on the island but won’t be able to go if she has to get back from Faversham.

“I can’t drive her as I have another son who is at school a couple of minutes down the road and needs picking up. The plan was she would go to the Leigh Academy and I would get my son and then pick her up.

“Finding out the news on Monday was absolutely devastating – it was heartbreaking. We didn't expect this. It’s unbelievable and unfair.”

Miss Norgate, who lives in Minster, has spent the past two days frantically trying to sort out what to do for her daughter, who has been left feeling like it’s her fault and she isn’t good enough.

“She’s been crying the whole time,” she added.

“Like many other parents I don’t know what to do now. My head is all over the place.”

The mum-of-two says she was hoping her daughter would go to a school nearby and isn’t willing to send her on a bus or train as she does multiple after school clubs which start at 4.30pm.

She continued: “I’m not sending my daughter off the island. I will have to teach her from home if she can’t get a place here.”

The Leigh Academies Trust (LAT), which took over Oasis Academy, revealed it had asked KCC over a “potential temporary increase” in the number of pupils for 2025.

A spokesman said: “Our first conversation took place at our request before Christmas, followed by a meeting arranged by us on February 6, with further discussions leading up to the school offer day deadline.

“Throughout this time, we remained open to supporting an intake of an additional 30 students for the benefit of Sheppey parents, provided that the necessary resources were in place to maintain a high standard of education for all pupils.

“Despite our flexible and proactive approach, KCC has not taken up our offer. Without sufficient investment in infrastructure and facilities, we believe that expanding beyond our existing capacity would place undue pressure on our academy, to the detriment of our current students.

“We remain committed to working with KCC to find sustainable solutions for Sheppey parents that ensure all students receive the education they deserve.”

Sheppey Central councillor Elliott Jayes (Swale Independents Alliance) said: “Monday was devastating for around 50 local families. Being allocated schools in Faversham, Maidstone or even Canterbury this will involve long bus journeys.

“The local community has got behind the Leigh Academy and EKC Sheppey since they took over the island secondary school sites, now the community needs the schools to step up and open additional classes for next year to accommodate the island pupils so they can stay and be educated on the island.

“It’s great they are oversubscribed as pupils want to go there but let’s let even more children in and be educated on their home island. I have emailed both head teachers to ask if they can open additional classes next year.”

KCC Sheppey councillor Mike Whiting (Ind) added: “I have had dozens of families contact me to complain that their child has been offered a secondary school place in Faversham, with one offered a school in Maidstone.

“We knew when we fixed the schools on Sheppey that parents would want to put their faith in the two new schools and send their children there. The schools, and Kent, should have planned for this.

“Getting a good school place for your child is stressful enough. It shouldn’t be, but it is. This year, many families are suffering and it is unacceptable.

“I have met this morning with KCC cabinet member Cllr Rory Love, and will be writing to both headteachers on Sheppey asking them to create additional space for island children. I will ensure everyone who has written to me is updated.

“The purpose of fixing the schools on Sheppey was to provide high quality local places for local children. This year, the system is failing many of those parents and their children.”

Kent County Council have been approached for comment.