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School expansion plans for Rosherville Church of England Academy in Northfleet

By: Ciaran Duggan, local democracy reporter cduggan@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:00, 22 February 2022

Updated: 16:57, 22 February 2022

A primary school could take on hundreds more pupils under £10million expansion plans.

Kent County Council (KCC) has unveiled proposals to create an extra 240 places at Rosherville Church of England Academy in Northfleet.

Rosherville school will move to a new location. Picture: Google Maps

The aim is to move the London Road school to a more "modern" site, within Gravesham's Cable Wharf housing development near the River Thames. The education site is owned by Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust.

It comes as the demand for primary school places in the borough grows and more housing is built in the area.

A KCC report says: “If no further action is taken in the longer term, we will find it extremely difficult to provide sufficient primary school places in Northfleet and west Gravesend.”

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Land is being awarded to the county council as part of the Cable Wharf housing developer's section 106 contribution.

Rosherville Church of England Academy has been described as "popular" with parents, but has been rated "requires improvement" by Ofsted.

The matter will be discussed at County Hall next month

KCC's expansion plans to accommodate more children, who will be aged from around five to 11, will be considered next month.

Under this, annual student numbers entering the school would rise from 20 to 60 year-on-year. The total number of students would grow from 140 to 380, government figures show.

No final date for completion has been publicly released.

If approved, Rosherville school will move to a new location. The existing site is deemed "unsuitable" due to ageing Victorian school buildings and restricted access from the B2175.

A KCC report adds: "The proposal addresses two issues. That of increasing the primary provision in the area and providing Rosherville with a new site and modern buildings, within the Cable Wharf development, but less than 200m from the existing school site."

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It is hoped that increasing the school’s capacity will make it more “financially viable” and support its future sustainability.

The Department for Education (DfE) says it is working closely with the council to find a resolution.

A DfE spokesman said: “We are aware of KCC's proposal for extra school places at Rosherville Church of England Academy, and are working with the council and school to explore the issue further.”

Councillors will discuss the proposals in more detail during KCC’s children’s, young people and education committee on March 1.

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