Kent County Council (KCC) has formally announced Sheppey's education system will be changing from three tiers to two.

The change was confirmed today after the Department for Children, Schools and Families informed KCC that the funding agreement for the establishment of a £48m Academy from September 2009 has now been signed by the Government.

When the Schools Adjudicator approved KCC’s proposal to move to two-tier on 25 July, he did so on the condition that ministers agree the establishment of an Academy on the Minster College and Cheyne Middle School sites within 15 working days of the date of his determination.

With the agreement in place, KCC can confirm that children who were in Year Four in a first school in the 2007/08 school year will remain in their present school in September 2008 as part of Year Five.

Cabinet member for education operations, resources and skills Councillor Mark Dance said: “Kent County Council is very pleased that this matter has been finally decided and is confident that the two-tier system will better serve the educational needs of Sheppey children.”