24 June 2019

Kent County Council (KCC) as the Local Authority has a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places are available. The County Council's Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2019-23 is a five-year rolling plan which is updated annually. It sets out our future plans as Strategic Commissioner of Education Provision across all types and phases of education in Kent. A copy of the plan can be viewed on Kent.gov.

It is anticipated that there will be significant short and medium-term pressure for additional Year 7 places in the Gravesend and Longfield Non-Selective Planning Group which indicates that additional capacity will be needed for 2019/20 and in later years.

Therefore, KCC has asked Thamesview School to provide additional places for local children by expanding the school.

Thamesview School has a Published Admission Number of 150, but offered 30 extra places in 2016, 2017, 2018 and for the September 2019 intake.

KCC propose increasing the amount of school social space including, dining, recreational and circulation space over the next twelve months. Without this building work, the school considers it may be unable to offer 180 places for September 2020. It is therefore proposed that for the September 2020 intake Thamesview maintain their PAN at 150 but will consider whether they can offer an additional 30 places nearer the time.

KCC propose planning and building a new block at the school, together with other infill work. This work would be completed before the September 2021 intake. This build would enable the school to offer up to 210 Year 7 places for September 2021.