More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A new school has secured funding from the government as it edges closer to opening on the site of Kent's £34m Garden City.
Ebbsfleet Green Primary School is due to open in September 2020 at the former quarry site between Dartford and Gravesham.
It is predicted the local population will rise to 252,000 by 2031.
The new school, which will be built on the Eastern Quarry, has been constructed to meed the rising demand for pupil places.
It forms part of the of the Maritime Academy Trust, an educational charity catering for kids aged 3-11 across eight primary schools based in London and Kent.
Now Trust bosses have secured a funding agreement with the Department for Education as the school takes another stride towards completion.
The contract has been entered into between the Education Secretary and the Maritime Academy Trust.
It sets out the terms on which the free school will be managed and funded, independent of local authority control.
Once completed the facility will cater to more than 400 students.
Beginning as a one-form entry school, the school will have nursery, reception, and classes for years one and two.
It has already received over 100 applications for places for the upcoming academic year.
When finished it will become the second new primary school to open on the garden settlement after Cherry Orchard Primary Academy in 2017.
Commenting on the funding agreement, Nick Osborne, National Leader of Education said, “As CEO of Maritime Academy Trust, I am delighted to sign the Funding Agreement with the Department for Education.
"This is a significant step towards the opening of our brand new community-driven school in Ebbsfleet Green – we thank all the local families who have supported our journey and we look forward to welcoming parents and children to the school in September.”
