Kent Messenger Maidstone

Parents see plans for new secondary school

- By Natalie Tipping ntipping@thekmgroup.co.uk @ntippingKM

Plans for a new secondary school catering for 1,200 pupils have been unveiled at a public meeting.

Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT) first considered plans for the School of Science and Technology in 2014.

Originally planned to open in September this year, the date was pushed back to September 2018.

A planning applicatio­n is yet to be lodged with Maidstone Borough Council.

VIAT runs two secondary schools in the County Town – Valley Park and Invicta Grammar – plus four primary schools in the area.

The free school will be built on the trust’s land near Vinters Park, with a new access road being created off New Cut Road.

It will have an annual intake of 180 pupils, and will educate those aged between 11 and 18.

According to the Kent County Council education commission­ing plan, forecasts for Maidstone indicate there will be a surplus of Year 7 places until September 2018, when a significan­t deficit is projected.

This will be addressed by the opening of SST Maidstone, which will focus on STEM subjects – science, technology, engineerin­g, and mathematic­s.

VIAT was granted permission to open the school by the Department for Education in 2014.

The KCC plan does note that if the opening of SST was further delayed, it would lead to a significan­t shortfall in places.

A public consultati­on was held on Tuesday at Valley Park School in Huntsman Lane, and was attended by representa­tives from the trust, plus BAM Constructi­on and KSS Architects.

Parents brought children along to see the plans but some concerns have been raised about the impact it will have on roads, congestion and nearby housing.

Some people are worried about residentia­l streets being overrun at pick-up and drop-off times.

VIAT plans to submit proposals to the council next month.

 ??  ?? BAM Constructi­on and KSS Architects have unveiled artists’ impression­s of a new school for Maidstone
BAM Constructi­on and KSS Architects have unveiled artists’ impression­s of a new school for Maidstone
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