Northfleet Technology College is proposing to expand to meet demand for secondary school places

Education bosses have drawn up plans to expand a secondary school to meet the growing demand for places.

Northfleet Technology College (NTC), in Northfleet, along with Kent County Council (KCC), has been consulting to increase the number of pupils it admits each year.

The secondary school, which is part of the Northfleet Schools Co-Operative Trust, decided to temporarily offer 189 places last year - an agreement which has been repeated for 2024.

However, the proposal seeks to make this expansion permanent, eventually increasing the number of students to 1,120. In 2023, there were 993.

If agreed upon, a new year 7 class will be created meaning the school, in Colyer Road, can allocate places for an additional 25 boys.

In a letter sent to parents, carers and staff, the chairwoman of governors, Sue Dunn said the number of spaces available will grow from 164 to 189 - a 15% increase.

She added: ”Gravesham borough’s population is increasing with more families moving into the area and as a result, KCC needs to add additional secondary school places to manage the increase in demand.

“One strategy for providing additional school places is to expand existing successful and popular schools.”

The cost of the expansion will be paid for using KCC’s basic need capital budget but funding needs to be agreed by councillors at the children’s, young people and education cabinet committee in May.

Ms Dunn said the plan is to then build a block next to the main school to accommodate this but in the meantime, two temporary structures with four classrooms will be placed on the field.

Permission is being sought by KCC and NTC to move the buildings from Meopham School.

The planning statement added: ”KCC as the local authority has a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places are available.

“The commissioning plan anticipates an ongoing increasing demand for secondary school places in the Gravesham area, as a result of increased dwelling constructions along with migration from the Greater London areas.

”NTC is a popular school and the proposal to increase the number of secondary places at the school is therefore, in line with the expectation of expanding pupil demand.

“The school cannot accommodate further pupil increases in the existing buildings on the site unless additional temporary classrooms are provided.

“As a result of the pressing demand for further school places, it is necessary for a temporary classroom strategy to be used, whilst a permanent solution to extend the school, to meet the planned growth is developed and delivered.”

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If the plans go ahead, it is expected the temporary buildings will be erected later in April and then removed in 2027.