Chilmington Green Secondary School off A28 Ashford Road set to open next summer
A new secondary school being built at a sprawling ‘garden town’ development is set to open next summer, it has been confirmed.
Construction of Chilmington Green Secondary School in Ashford started in February almost two years after plans were first approved.
The new buildings are now taking shape just off A28 Ashford Road and, once complete, will cater for 1,140 pupils.
United Learning Academy Trust, which will run the school, says the site will feature nine science labs and sports facilities such as a new sports hall, activity studio and outdoor pitches.
When the plans were first announced, concerns were raised over the school’s access as it is being built in Chilmington Green Road, which has become notorious for rush-hour traffic and uneven surfaces.
In a bid to make it safer, access to Chilmington Green Road from the A28 will eventually be permanently closed to traffic to encourage drivers to access the school from a new route.
A new road called The Avenue will connect to a roundabout where the A28 meets Sandy Lane.
While the buildings are still being worked on, Chilmington Green Secondary School opened last September with a full Year 7 cohort and is already over-subscribed for its 2024 intake.
Pupils are currently being taught at a temporary location at the former Chilmington Green Primary School site in Jemmett Road, South Ashford.
Work on the new school building is set to be complete next summer, with classes due to move in soon after.
The school will eventually grow by a year group each year, catering for pupils aged 11 to 18.
Jonathan Rutland, principal of Chilmington Green School, said: “We feel incredibly fortunate to have a brand-new building designed around the needs of our students and we look forward to moving in.
“Once complete, the building will be fully equipped with the resources and facilities needed to bring our curriculum alive so that we can continue to deliver an outstanding learning experience for our students.
“While we only opened just over six months ago, Chilmington Green School has very quickly established itself as a highly-aspirational and inclusive school.
“Our Year 7 students are reaping the benefits of being our founding students and we were very pleased to be oversubscribed for admissions this September.
“We look forward to welcoming our new cohort into our thriving and supportive school community.”
The secondary facility is part of the Chilmington Green masterplan which includes 5,750 homes, four primary schools and shops alongside healthcare and sports facilities.
Outline planning permission for the development was granted early in 2017 and hundreds of homes have already been built.
Major roadworks to dual a section of the A28 Chart Road to help ease congestion are also part of the wider plans.
Hodson Developments Ltd, the lead company behind homes, is required to pay for vital upgrades to the stretch between the Matalan and ‘Tank’ roundabouts.
But last year the developer appealed to amend its funding, throwing the whole scheme into doubt.
A public inquiry to consider all the amendments Hodson is asking for is due to be held this year.
Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.
Work to dual the road was supposed to start in 2018 when scores of trees were felled along the stretch in preparation.
But constant delays to the project mean work will now not start until at least early 2025, according to KCC.
