Controversial plans to abolish the Island’s three middle schools have finally been given the go-ahead.

It means pupils will stay on at their primary schools before transferring to secondary school at the age of 11.

This brings Sheppey into line with the rest of the county.

Schools adjudicator John Simpson, who is independent of the government and Kent County Council, announced his decision on Monday and said a final decision on the Island’s proposed

£48 million academy must be made by August 15.

Cheyne Middle School appealed against Kent County Council’s decision to introduce a two-tier system on Sheppey last month.

But the adjudicator, after attending a packed meeting there last month, said he believed there was “widespread support on Sheppey for the change from a three-tier to a two-tier system and a capacity for change and improvement from the schools involved”.

He said: “Current arrangements do not adequately meet the educational needs of all pupils on the Island and while the council’s preferred option for secondary education had some significant risks attached to it, the prospect of maintaining the status quo would cause further delay and uncertainty for pupils and parents.”

He added that should the proposal for the plannned academy not receive ministerial approval, “then the whole proposal should be rethought with new options for the secondary phase and a new time frame for implementation”.

KCC says it is “pleased” the adjudicator has supported the authority’s plans to change from a three-tier to a two-tier education system. Dr Ian Craig, the council’s director of operations for children, families and education, said: “We await a ministerial decision on the establishment of the academy, following which we will be able to confirm arrangements for September.

“We have made contingency arrangements for all eventualities but are hopeful for a swift decision so we can move forward.”

~ Listen: Ian Craig spoke to kmfm's Jo Sword >>>

Under the plans, first schools become fully blown primary schools and, from September next year, Minster College, Cheyne Middle School and Danley Middle School will close.

The idea is to build an academy on two sites, at Cheyne and Minster College. Pam Swain, chairman of Cheyne governors, said after the adjudicator’s announcement: “We are pleased we stood up for what the vast majority of the Islanders wanted which was a genuine choice of schools at 11.

“We hope that the powers that be will address the concerns of the adjudicator, many of which reflect our own.

“We will happily contribute to this process and hopefully our views and the expertise of the staff will be acted upon and not just listened to and ignored.”

Theresa Langworthy, pictured, chairman of The Sheppey Parents’ Action Group, said: “KCC cannot claim this decision from the adjudicator is a ringing endorsement of its proposals.

“The tone of the document suggests the adjudicator is trying his hardest to make the best of a bad job.

“Throughout the document, there is a constant reference back to the need to end the current uncertainty.

“We believe the adjudicator has taken account of the fact that the only proposal for change in the secondary sector put forward by the council is the academy and that despite the obvious flaws in the academy proposals, the need for change balanced with the need to end the uncertainty has heavily influenced his decision.

“The problem is that the decision that is being taken now is likely to be with us for another 40 years.”