New Free Schools planned for Kent and Medway

A clutch of new free schools for Kent are due to get the green light today as the government announces its latest wave of schools under its flagship policy.

It is to confirm the county's schools are among 27 in the South East to get the go-ahead, together creating 15,429 places.

The announcement represents the latest step in the government’s programme for free schools and there will be particular interest in two schemes that involve grammars as sponsors.

The schools in Kent to get the go-ahead are...

Canterbury: Barton Court Academy Trust Free School – proposed by Barton Court Grammar School, a new non-selective free school providing 1,050 school places for 11 to 19-year-olds.

Dartford: Stone Lodge Academy – a new secondary school for 11 to 19 year-olds, proposed by Endeavour Multi Academy Trust. It already runs two grammar schools and will use their expertise running selective schools to open a new non-selective free school.

Bearsted, Maidstone: There will be a new special school

Folkestone: The Turner Academy secondary school

Gravesham: A school called The Primary First Trust

Maidstone: A new primary school for in the county town called Maidstone Primary

Medway will also see a number of new schools...

Medway Academy

Rochester Riverside Church of England Primary

The Beeches – listed as an alternative provision primary school

The Maritime Academy - an all-through secondary school

Education secretary Justin Greening said: “We need schools that can bring out the best in every single child no matter where they’re growing up, how much their parents earn, or however different their talents are.”

“That’s why these new schools are so important - they give us the school places we need for the future, and they also give parents more choices to find a great school place in their area that’s right for their child.”

'We need schools that can bring out the best in every single child no matter where they’re growing up'

Free schools can be set up by parents, teachers, charities, businesses, cultural and sporting bodies, community groups, academy trusts and sponsors.

They can also be existing schools in response to demand from the local community, either where there is a shortage of places, or where the parents are not happy with the places on offer.

The government says the latest wave of 131 new schools will create more than 69,000 new school places – including more than 4,000 for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.