Hopes of a new grammar school in the district have been revived by the head teacher of Canterbury’s Barton Court.

Kirstin Cardus says her interest in opening a selective school on the coast "has not wavered" since proposals to relocate the city grammar were shelved in 2014.

She admits she has held regular talks with Herne Bay MP Sir Roger Gale about the idea, saying they "share a passion" for opening a new school.

"Barton Court Academy Trust has always been very interested in opening a selective school on the coast and in particular in Herne Bay," she said.

"This interest has not wavered and if the opportunity arises for us to do so then we will seriously look at this option again.

"We have remained in close contact with Sir Roger Gale for a number of years as we share the same passion of providing a selective educational provision in this area."

Previous plans proposed Barton Court relocate to the former Herne Bay Golf Club, where a developer had earmarked land for a new school.

The plans were shelved in the face of stiff opposition from parents in Canterbury, but the opening of an entirely new school appears to remain on the cards.

Sir Roger said: "Whether it’s an annex or a new school, that’s up for debate, but Kirstin Cardus would like it to happen and so would I."

The veteran Tory added he will soon be speaking with the Secretary of State for Education about the idea.

"I believe it's an achievable aspiration and I want to make it happen," he said.

"My mother died when I was five and my father had a very hard time indeed – I doubt I’d be here today if I hadn’t gone to a grammar school.

"They encourage social mobility and that’s a very good thing."

But while it has been welcomed by many parents whose children have to travel to Canterbury grammars, the idea is likely to face opposition.

Joanne Bartley, chairman of the Kent Education Network, said: "Every time a grammar school is expanded, it makes life really difficult for the schools nearby because they attract the best teachers and they take the high-achieving pupils, which leaves the other schools with lower aspirations and fewer top sets and A-Level subjects.

"There’s absolutely no reason why two schools that are given good resources in Herne Bay wouldn’t work much better."