A grammar school in Sittingbourne could permanently expand next year if plans are approved by County Hall.

Kent County Council (KCC), the local education authority, has put forward £5.4 million proposals to enlarge Borden Grammar School for Boys from September 2022.

If granted, the number of Year 7 pupils studying at the Avenue of Remembrance site would increase by 30 each year.

Plans also include building new accommodation, a three-court sports hall and specialist classrooms, such as IT and science labs.

KCC’s education committee met on Tuesday to review the proposed scheme. It gave it the go-ahead but it will now need to go through the planning process.

A KCC report published to the committee earlier this week says: "Without the additional selective capacity created by the permanent expansion at Borden Grammar School, there will not be sufficient Year 7 grammar places available in Sittingbourne to meet demand.

"This would result in children having to travel to other districts or planning groups for their grammar education and would further increase transport costs for KCC."

'Boys requiring a grammar school place will also be able to secure a place at their local grammar school...'

Borden Grammar has been described as a "well-respected" and "popular" Kent school. It received a "good" Ofsted judgement in the most recent inspection and caters for just over 800 pupils, who are aged between 11 and 18.

It is one of two grammar schools in Sittingbourne. The other, Highsted Grammar, is a selective secondary school for girls.

Discussions have been held with both grammar schools in the local area to expand on a permanent basis as KCC has forecast a shortfall of 64 Year 7 places by 2022 if no action is taken.

The rising demand has come due to an increase in the number of births from 2008 to 2012 and building of hundreds of new homes in the Swale division.

Around £5.4million of public cash is being allocated by KCC to deliver an expansion programme at Borden Grammar, which is near Sainsbury's on Roman Square.

It would mean the number of Year 7 pupils, aged 11 to 12, studying at the school would rise from 120 places to 150 for September 2022.

In addition, a new sports hall, with changing facilities, would be built alongside new classrooms, an expanded dining room and kitchen and more toilets.

This has received the "full support" of Borden Grammar School headteacher Ashley Tomlin and the governing body, according to the KCC report.

The dossier adds: "The expansion of Borden Grammar School also means that boys requiring a grammar school place will also be able to secure a place at their local grammar school, alongside girls securing places at Highsted due to their expansion within the same timeframe."

Subject to planning approval, a final decision will likely be made by KCC's education cabinet member, Cllr Shellina Prendergast (Con).

Her verdict will come after county councillors discuss the proposals during a virtual meeting next Tuesday (Sep 14) from 10am.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne