A new school trust has been identified to replace a failing academy in the county.

After the Oasis Community Learning Trust announced it was pulling out of the Isle of Sheppey earlier this year a frantic search for its replacement has ensued.

Months of trying to find an appropriate body to take on the Island’s failing school has led to Strood-based Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) being the “preferred sponsor”.

The Department for Education says it is an ideal candidate due to it being a large, local trust with a “strong track record of turning around underperforming schools”.

A spokesman added: “The trust will now carry out due diligence and, subject to their board agreeing to proceed, a final decision will be made by the regional director in due course on whether the academy will transfer to this trust.”

LAT looks after 32 primary and secondary schools around Medway, Kent and south east London.

Despite the update, uncertainty remains about whether or not the change of hands will happen in time for the new school year in September.

With just days to go before the summer holidays, it is thought September 2024 is a more likely date for Oasis to leave the Island and LAT to take over – if all goes to plan.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson told KentOnline he is preparing to ask the Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan what she is doing to end the uncertainty over secondary education on Sheppey.

“I can assure you the problem of secondary education on the Isle of Sheppey is something that I have been working on for as long as I have been an MP and am continuing to actively address,” he said.

“I have had a number of meetings with the DfE to emphasise the need for a radical solution to the problem of secondary education on Sheppey, which is having an adverse effect on schools in Sittingbourne, all of which are over-subscribed.

“This is because 1,000 children are bussed from the Island every day to schools on the mainland.

“I believe any such solution should start with having two separate secondary schools on the Island. However, separating the existing academy into two schools does pose a number of logistical problems, which are currently being considered.

“This proposal is taking longer than would be a straight transfer from Oasis to a different Multi Academies Trust, which I do not believe would solve the long-standing problem.”

Mr Henderson, who will not be seeking re-election, has vowed to try and ask Ms Keegan whether her department is taking steps to help children in Swale attend a local school near their homes.

An Oasis Community Learning Trust spokesman said: “Earlier this year the board of trustees, in mutual agreement with the Department for Education, agreed to transfer Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey to another trust.

“We have been working with the Department for Education whilst they appoint a new trust to ensure this process is as smooth as possible. The DfE has announced that a preferred sponsor has been agreed: Leigh Academies Trust.

“Before a final decision of a transfer is made, the priority of our dedicated, hardworking staff will remain the young people and wider academy community we serve and supporting our students to achieve their best.

“We will continue to build on the progress highlighted in the most recent Ofsted report, which praised the improvements that have been made around the quality of education, attendance rates, behaviour, and our investment in resources to support further improvement.

“The Oasis Charitable Trust plans to continue its collaboration with local partners to provide youth and community work beyond the transfer, and Oasis remains deeply committed to the Isle of Sheppey and its community.”