Dartford could become home to a one-of-a-kind academy for youngsters leaving primary school.

Billed as a feeder school for the Leigh University Technical College (LUTC) in Brunel Way, the Inspiration Academy will have 360 places for pupils aged between 11 and 14 who wish to specialise in science, technology, engineering and maths.

The LUTC only serves those aged 14 or older, meaning those wanting to join have to leave their original secondary school after just three years. The Leigh Academies Trust hopes the new school would help bridge the gap.

Steve Leahey, who would combine his role as LUTC principal with the same one at the new school, said: “We want to build a specialised academy that would complement the UTC.

“It’s feasible for students to arrive at 11, stay all the way through their post-16 exams, then come back to us as an apprentice for another three years.

“The feedback from parents has been amazing and very encouraging. Being the first UTC in the country to have its own feeder school is a very interesting development for us.”

If approved by Dartford council planners, the new school would plan to open in November 2017 with an initial intake of 120 Year 7 pupils, reaching a total of 260 two years later.

Most of the staff would be shared between the two schools, which would be next to one another, with six additional hires to be made for the Inspiration Academy.

The academy would be a three- storey building with classrooms, offices, changing rooms, a boardroom, science labs and a sports hall, plus a five-a-side football pitch and 31 new on-site parking spaces.

Facilities will also be made available for community use, including the conference and seminar rooms, the sports hall – which will accommodate basketball, badminton, netball, football and tennis – and the dining room.

With 150 youngsters already making up each year group at the LUTC, by 2019 there will be will more than 1,000 students and staff travelling to and from the site each day.

Despite the increase in numbers, a transport plan conducted by consultancy firm MLM Constructing Engineers says the area will be able to adequately support the traffic and footfall.

A decision on the application is expected later this month.