An “overly ambitious” opening date for a special educational needs (SEND) school has been pushed back by up to three years – amid fears the funding could be pulled.
Plans for the “much-needed” facility, to be based at the former Birchwood Community Primary School site, off Russett Way in Swanley, were first submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) by Kent County Council (KCC) in Autumn 2022.
They were given the go-ahead a year later and the Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) then put forward an application, which was approved in May last year, to add the site to its portfolio of special schools, including Milestone in New Ash Green and Snowfields in Maidstone.
Provisionally named Leigh Academy Swanley (LAS), the new school was expected to open in September 2026, subject to planning permission and would cater for up to 250 children.
However, it’s now understood it may not open until 2028, or 2029 after KCC conceded the original timescales were “overly ambitious”.
Richard Taylor, spokesman for the Trust, says they have sought clarification from the DfE on “several occasions” about when this new school will be developed, but are yet to received a “satisfactory response”.
“We continue to work with both KCC and DfE to bring this much-needed SEN school to fruition at the earliest possible point,” he added.
“LAT already runs two outstanding special schools and will bring its expertise to bear to ensure that its third is equally as successful”.
Sevenoaks MP and former government minister Laura Trott said the delay is “very disappointing” and she’s doing all she can “to get this project moving”
She added: “Delivery of this much-needed new school is vital for our community.
“I have therefore written to both KCC and the Department for Education asking for everything to be done to ensure a 2027, or at latest 2028 opening.
“Spades need to be in the ground as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, work is underway at two other schools which might “lessen” the impact of this delay.
A consultation is open on a proposal to increase the capacity of nearby SEND school, Parkwood Hall Co-operative Academy, in Beechenlea Lane, from 120 to 192 students.
Spades need to be in the ground as soon as possible
This also includes the possibility of lowering the age range at the site to four-year-olds, so it would cover Reception to Year 14.
Another consultation is also open to expand provision at Broomhill Bank School in Rowhill Road, Hextable.
This would involve the number of students going from 318 to 190.
To do this, one of the old buildings would be demolished and replaced with two new blocks – adding 12 more classrooms to the site.
More details on the consultations can be found here.
Ryan Hayman, who heads up Swanley Town Council which oversees the areas where all the schools are, told KentOnline he was also disappointed by the delays.
“The planning and tendering process can cause timeframes to slip, but moving the opening back to possibly three years later suggests other factors have influenced this decision,” he added.
“The creation of 105 new SEND places at Broomhill Bank and 72 new SEND places at Parkwood School are welcomed, but we would like assurances that these will be phased in quickly to lessen the impact of the new school being delayed.”
In response KCC said it too was “frustrated” by the delays while stating that the government’s initial target opening date was “overly ambitious”.
The DfE’s target opening date of 2026 was overly ambitious
A spokesperson said: “The new special school in Swanley is an integral part of KCC’s SEN transformation programme as part of the DfE’s SEN Safety Value contract.
“The additional SEN places provided by the school will relieve pressure on existing provisions in North Kent and help minimise costs by reducing the use of independent schools.
“Approval for the school was gained following a successful bid by KCC, with DfE funding the majority of the project and managing the build.
“The DfE’s target opening date of 2026 was overly ambitious, and delays — particularly in finalising project terms — have resulted in estimated completion in 2028/29.
“This has caused frustration to both KCC and Leigh Academies Trust, the DfE-approved provider for the school.”
KCC says it is waiting for government colleagues to appoint the technical team, commence feasibility studies and provide the formal project plan.
In the meantime it says its officers are continuing to prepare the site to ensure the scheme can be “expedited”.
It also acknowledged that the DfE has been reviewing approved free school schemes across the country and considering whether or not they should progress all of them.
The additional delays may also be linked to the government’s anticipated reform of SEND which will be announced later this year, it added.
The DfE has been approached for comment.
