Three secondary schools in Sittingbourne are to be enlarged over the next two years to cope with a surging demand for places.

Kent County Council (KCC) is planning to allocate £3million to "temporarily" enlarge three sites so extra pupils can be taken from next September 2022 and the following year.

The schools are Westlands in Westlands Avenue, The Sittingbourne School in Swanstree Avenue and Fulston Manor in Brenchley Road.

KCC has identified the need for extra secondary places across Swale, which includes Sheppey and Faversham, because new housing developments are boosting the borough's population. Parents on the Isle of Sheppey are also sending their children to the mainland.

Education chiefs stressed the need for swift action as they fear a shortfall of 176 spaces for Year 7 starters in September 2023.

A KCC report warns: "To help meet the predicted pressure on places in Sittingbourne, the proposal is to temporarily expand Westlands, The Sittingbourne School and Fulston Manor for September 2022 and September 2023."

It adds: "There is a need to secure a permanent solution to the secondary place pressures from September 2024 onwards and options are being investigated."

An additional 30 Year 7 places would be provided at Westlands, another 30 at The Sittingbourne School and 15 at Fulston Manor.

More than 4,600 pupils are currently studying at the three sites.

The report says: "Proposals to meet the shorter term pressures are being brought forward after discussion with the local secondary schools."

In its budget, KCC has allocated around £1m for each of the school expansions.

Meanwhile, developers have put forward a proposal to create a new primary and secondary school off Quinton Road, Kemsley, by September 2028.

But concerns have been raised because the start date for supporting housing to pay for the new schools has been put back by developers putting pressure on existing schools.

Additional pressure on Sittingbourne's non-selective schools is coming from Sheppey parents who opt to send their children off the Island instead of to Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey.

Every day more than 1,200 pupils are ferried to Sittingbourne on a fleet of buses.

KCC's education committee is to discuss the matter on January 11.