A FAR-REACHING shake-up of several Kent schools has moved a step nearer.

County education chiefs are poised to move ahead with the first formal step towards implementing a two-tier education system for more than 5,000 pupils on the Isle of Sheppey, bringing the island in line with the rest of Kent.

County councillors signalled their support for the re-organisation today (March 19), which will include the creation of a £46million academy, after four years of prolonged and often acrimonious wrangling about the way forward.

Kent County Council was forced to embark on a fresh round of consultation after a parent successfully mounted a legal challenge its original consultation process.

However, the result of the new consultation, which ended last week, indicated most islanders now supported the county council’s plans.

This will see the creation of nine primary schools for 4 to 11-year-olds, with one middle school - St George’s - becoming a primary.

In the secondary sector, there will be an independent academy split over two sites - Minster College and what is currently Cheyne Middle School.

The island’s third middle school - Danley - would close.

County councillors on KCC’s cross-party Schools Organisation Advisory Board (SOAB) unanimously backed the plans, saying it represented a unique opportunity for the island.

Sheppey councillor Adrian Crowther (Con) said: “Parents have got to accept that there are people who know a fair bit more than they do and we must listen to their advice.

“The future of the island is incredibly exciting. One day, Sheppey will look back and say to us 'thank God you gave us a lead’.”

Cllr Mark Dance (Con), KCC’s cabinet member for school organisation, is expected to rubber-stamp a decision within days and issue formal public notices to change the age range for the island’s first and middle schools and to formally close Minster College, Cheyne Middle School and Danley Middle School ahead of the academy’s creation.

Under KCC’s timetable, the primary phase would get underway in September this year with the academy open in September 2009.