Kent County Council has successfully prosecuted a mother and father for allowing their son’s school attendance to drop to just 10% while Kent schools’ average attendance rate is well above 95%. The couple have been found guilty and fined £1,240 each by magistrates. The parents, who failed to appear in court, had told KCC they…
Kent County Council Leader Paul Carter has opened the refurbished restaurant at Towers School in Ashford which was named after him. Carter’s Restaurant offers students from schools all over Ashford the opportunity to learn hospitality and catering skills as part of their vocational studies. The restaurant is run like a business and it opened to…
After four years of campaigning, a significant milestone has been reached for selective education in the UK as building work starts on a grammar school annexe in Kent. The grammar school provision in Sevenoaks is an annexe of the Weald of Kent Grammar School, in Tonbridge. Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council, said: “This…
Due to industrial action by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) on Tuesday 5 July schools in Kent could be forced to close or partially close. Parents should check with their child’s school to see what impact the action is likely to have and whether the school will be closed or partially closed to some…
After many months of negotiation for new school buildings, Ridge View Special school in Tonbridge has finally been granted planning approval. Following Kent County Council‘s planning applications committee meeting on 9 March the planning decision was referred to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State will not be calling this decision in which means…
This year more children than ever have applied for a place in a Kent secondary school, with 18,797 applications received, an increase of more than 600 over last year. With 92% of all applications made online, it means from 4pm thousands of Kent families will be logging on to view their accounts or receiving an…
Applications are open for primary, infant and junior places in Kent schools, with about 16,000 families expected to apply for a place to start school next September. Families are being encouraged to apply as soon as possible for a primary school place for their children and not miss the 15 January deadline. Last year there…
Kent County Council has welcomed the news that Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has today approved the expansion of the Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge onto a new site in Sevenoaks. KCC Leader Paul Carter said: “This is great news for girls from the Sevenoaks area who are assessed as suitable for a grammar…
Kent County Council Leader Paul Carter was the guest of honour to open a new £2.37 million extension to St John’s primary school in Maidstone. The Provender Way, Weavering, school was officially opened on Tuesday (June 9) and can now provide education for 420 children aged 4-11 years-old. The school, which has doubled its intake to…
Parents can apply for a new Young Persons’ Travel Pass for the next academic year from Monday 15 June. Pass applications must be received by Friday 17 July to guarantee that they are ready for the first day of the new academic year. Renewals for existing pass holders are not automatic and any parent wanting…
Nearly 96% of children across Kent will start their formal education in 2015 at a primary school named by their parents on their application. That figure – 16,691 children in all – includes 14,943 who were offered their first preference, up by 427 compared with last year. This takes the percentage of first-choice placements up…
A new housing development in Ashford is to get a new primary school and Kent County Council is happy that Stour Academies Trust is the chosen sponsor to run the school. The Finberry development at Cheeseman’s Green, located South East of Ashford, is to have a new two form entry primary school that will serve as…