The weeds are taking over at the site of the former Danley Middle School

Here is a look at the vacant Danley Middle School more than three years since the last pupil set foot in its grounds.

Courtyards have become overgrown with weeds, fences and rails have rusted over while the inside has been rendered unsafe due to asbestos.

Kent County Council (KCC) member Mike Whiting took a tour of the derelict site in Halfway ahead of its demolition.

The reception area at the former Danley Middle School in Halfway

He was accompanied by Cllr Ken Pugh and KCC project manager Sue Meads.

Cllr Whiting said: “It was a trip down memory lane. I hadn’t been there since the final reunion event just before the closure.

“It was a trip back in time and at times it was quite emotional.”

The cabinet member for education, learning and skills was part of the first intake of pupils in 1970.

Cllr Mike Whiting peers into the kitchens at the former Danley Middle School

He was chairman of the first school council and as an adult he went on to become a governor.

Both of Cllr Whiting’s children went to Danley and the Richard Moreton Annex was named after his stepfather, who taught there.

He added: “It was quite a sad and sorry state, seeing where nature was taking parts of the building back, the ivy growing up the walls and the weeds growing through the playground.

“The best thing for it now is to be knocked down and a new school to be built.”

KCC has spent a total of £287,383.88 on on-site security at the Danley Road site from its closure in August 2009 up to December 2012.

The decision was made to knock down the buildings in May 2012 and demolition work could begin any time after a 28-day waiting period which ends on March 5.

KCC hopes the land will become the new home for a rebuilt Halfway Houses Primary, currently based nearby in Southdown Road.

The new school is set to receive funding from the Department of Education’s (DFE) Priority School Build Programme. However, work is unlikely to start until 2016 because the primary is near the bottom of a list of 14 in the UK.