An overcrowded Kent grammar school has become so cramped pupils are being taught in the dining hall.

Teachers at Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford say they have run out of space - with all year groups except sixth form at or close to capacity.

They now want to build a new block of four classrooms on an existing car park and have applied to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) for permission.

The boys' grammar, which was rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in December, has 1,252 pupils on its roll, of which 239 are in the mixed-gender sixth form.

Teachers say the new block, which will include a drama classroom, will be used by sixth-formers and could open in the next academic year.

Documents prepared by Ashley Consultants on behalf of the school state the current facilities "do not accommodate all the children".

"The objective of this project is to provide a new modular classroom block for sixth form," they wrote in a planning statement submitted to ABC.

"They also need a new area for drama class, as currently they have to use the gym or common classrooms, and there is not enough space in these classrooms for all the students.

“This lack of space also forces students to study in areas such as the dining hall.

“It will be a long-term investment lasting approximately 30 years, benefiting the school when other areas need refurbishment in the future.”

The new block is set to come with ramps to make the classrooms accessible for pupils with disabilities.

While the building is planned for a car park at the Hythe Road site, the school says these spaces are not currently used.

In a statement, head teacher Ben Greene told KentOnline he is “excited about our application to build additional classrooms”.

“Over recent years student numbers have increased following the decision to increase our published admissions number in 2018,” he said.

“All year groups in Years 7 to 11 are now at or very close to capacity. This is linked to and feeding into growth of our sixth-form numbers.

“The additional classes will enable us to accommodate this growth and maintain the quality of delivery which was acknowledged in our recent Ofsted inspection.

“In particular it will allow for the provision of dedicated classrooms for subjects as well as additional dedicated study facilities for sixth form students.

“If the application is successful we are hoping to have the additional provision in place and in use at some point in the 2024-25 academic year.”

A decision on the application will be made by planning officers at ABC.

The school’s history can be traced back to the 1600s and was named after its founder Sr Norton Knatchbull who lived in nearby Mersham-Le-Hatch.