County education chiefs admit they will need to build new primary schools and expand others... just years after a controversial programme of closures across Kent.

Some 800 children missed out on getting a place at one of their three preferred primary schools this year, with the highest numbers in west Kent.

A far-reaching programme of closures and mergers in 2006 affected more than 40 schools and led to widespread opposition and warnings that shortages would be created.

At the time, KCC warned empty desks were costing it millions each year and a falling birth rate meant it had no option.

Now the situation has reversed and a rising birth rate is placing unexpected pressure on demand for places.

The authority is due to reveal details of its strategy for meeting the demand shortly and it is likely to include plans for new schools.

kcc: pupils who missed out on any of their three preferences

ashford, 44(118 school places are currently available)
•canterbury 44 (156)
•dartford 76 (60)
•dover 29 (212)
•gravesham 46 (117)
•maidstone 115 (68)
•sevenoaks 106 (74)
•shepway 50 (89)
•swale 63 (83)
•thanet 101 (100)
•tonbridge & malling 40 (114)
•tunbridge wells 87 (24)
•n/a applicants with no assigned district 17 (0)
•total 818 (1,215)

Cllr Mike Whiting (Con), KCC cabinet member for education, said:

"As with the rest of England, the birth rate in Kent has risen significantly in recent years. We have and will continue to make more school places available in reception classes. Some schools have been expanded and, in others, accommodation has been brought back into classroom use."

He added that some schools had already agreed to accept more pupils to meet the growing demand.

"We will be consulting shortly on our ‘Commissioning Plan for Education Provision’.

"This sets out the predicted demand for school places, and identifies where and when additional capacity will be needed.

"We will be working with local communities, schools and education sponsors to make sure we find the right solutions for Kent in the short and longer term."

Last month, KCC said that about 95% of the 16,294 children applying for a place at a primary school had received an offer at one of their three choices.

Under KCC’s own guidelines, schools are required to have between five and seven per cent surplus capacity to cushion any unexpected additional demand for places.

But a report produced by education officials in 2010 that questioned whether KCC had taken out too many primary places indicated that spare capacity across Kent’s schools would be under one per cent in 2011-12.