A new Margate secondary school will spend its first year based at Walmer Science College if current plans continue to progress.

Kent County Council has confirmed its intention for the Salisbury Road site to home up to 120 Year 7 pupils from September 2019 to September 2020.

The children will then move to a more permanent base at the former Royal School for the Deaf in Margate - 17 miles from Walmer.

But the entire new school project rides on whether KCC can secure a suitable sponsor to run it.

A KCC spokesman said: “The new school cannot run from the Royal School for the Deaf site from September 2019 due to building work needed at that site to adapt and enlarge it to meet the requirements of the new mainstream school.

“The intention is to secure a sponsor who will work with us to open the new Thanet school in September 2019, albeit on a temporary site at Walmer. We have a number of options we are exploring as to how we can protect the places for Margate/Thanet children and will need to look at this with the eventual sponsor as the new Free School will be its own admissions authority.

“As part of this we will need to look at the travel implications and how best to manage those for one year.

“Prior to 2019 we may need to carry out some work at Walmer but will need to undertake feasibility work first to determine what, if anything, needs to be done. Clearly we will want to minimise the cost of temporary arrangements that will only last for one year.”

The authority says the temporary solution at Walmer may need to cater for around 90 pupils, but it could be as high as 120.

It is all part of their work to ensure there will be enough suitable school places for every child and young person throughout the county over the coming years.

Previous occupants Goodwin Academy vacated Walmer Science College on August 31.

Enterprise Learning Alliance, the pupil referral unit which serves the Dover district, is now using part of the site and buildings.

Portal House School, a small Special School for pupils who experience social, emotional and behavioural difficulties based in St Margaret’s, is also using the sports facilities while its own are being constructed.

A spokesman continued: “KCC has committed to retaining the Walmer Science College site for educational use.

“We continue to look to see what future need there is for the site. With pressure transferring from the primary to secondary school sector in Kent, we know there will be challenges meeting future demand in some areas, for example Thanet.

“Currently many children leave Deal each day to access secondary schools in other towns. As pressure for places increases, so catchment areas will reduce. It remains prudent, therefore, for the site to be retained in line with the original council decision.”

KCC will soon be launching a Free School presumption competition to try to secure a sponsor for the new school.