Plans to open new Da Vinci School in Sevenoaks area needs public support
15:45, 27 February 2017
Support is needed for plans to open a new all-through free school in the Sevenoaks area.
A team of educationalists has proposed opening Da Vinci School, which would provide education from reception class to year 11.
However, the school site will not be confirmed until the school is approved to open, with the application being sent off next month.
The team is asking for local support to show the Department for Education that there is a demand for a new school in the area, as other local schools are currently over-subscribed.
If opened, the school plans to accept primary children in the rural areas of Hildenborough, Leigh and north Tonbridge.
This would take the pressure off other schools as the demand for places increases.
At the current level of housing and population growth, they claim there will be 50 reception children without a local school place in 2019, rising to 79 in 2025, assuming that no new housing is built in the meantime.
The school is also set to offer places to secondary students in Edenbridge, East Grinstead, Lingfield, Crowborough, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, Kings Hill and Tunbridge Wells.
They say there will be a need for 307 year seven places in these areas in 2019, increasing to 832 in 2025 - without taking account of any planned housing.
The school would place strong emphasis on literacy, numeracy and languages.
To show your support, visit the website and sign the parental support survey or public petition.
A public information evening will also be held at the Eden Centre, Edenbridge on Friday, March 3 at 8pm and at Masonic Hall, St Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells on Thursday, March 16 at 8pm.