More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A third primary school to serve families moving to a new garden city has been approved.
The Primary First Trust has been given the green light by the Department for Education to open a new facility on the Springhead Park development near Gravesend.
Springhead Park Primary School will open its doors in September 2020 for nursery and reception age children.
There are currently 1,700 homes in the former quarry with around 4,000 residents and future plans for 15,000 homes to be created.
A total of seven primary schools are scheduled within the development over the coming years to meet the growing demand.
It will be the third new primary school in the garden city after Cherry Orchard Primary Academy in September 2017, and Ebbsfleet Green Primary School, also scheduled for completion by September next year.
The final beam was lifted into place earlier this month for a new bridge linking residents of the settlement to Ebbsfleet International station.
The trust already has nine academies under its control across Bexley, Medway and Gravesend.
This includes Westcourt Primary in Gravesend, Wayfield Primary, Chatham, and Cuxton Infants in Rochester.
Newly-appointed principal of the school, Wayne Clayton, was previously assistant headmaster at the Rochester-based academy.
He said he was looking forward to stepping up to the position and ushering in the school's first pupils.
“Becoming the founding head teacher at Springhead is a very exciting prospect, and I cannot wait for this adventure to begin," he said.
The multi-academy trust says it will provide an experiential and thematic curriculum which will allow every child to follow their individual talents and interests.
Chief executive Andrew Moorhouse echoed Mr Clayton's enthusiasm and said he was eagerly anticipating the school's opening.
He said: “Springhead Park gives us an amazing opportunity to bring the best of all that we know about primary education to the needs of this vibrant new community. We can’t wait to get started!”
A public consultation in conjunction with Kent County Council was launched today and will run until Monday, December 9.
The admissions window for pupils will open on November 5.
Further details can be found at www.theprimaryfirsttrust.co.uk or by calling 01474565903.
