Boys could move into an all girls school to help create more grammar school places in Sevenoaks.

David Bower, chair of governors at the Weald of Kent Grammar School, penned a letter to parents on Friday urging them to allow his school to become co-educational.

A ballot has been set up and parents have until Friday, March 21 to cast their vote.

The letter told parents: “Without additional capacity being sited in Sevenoaks, Kent County Council judge that students resident in Sevenoaks District will become increasingly disadvantaged, year on year, both in access to selective education and the distances they have to travel to find selective education.”

The grammar school tried to build an annexe in Sevenoaks but the Department for Education rejected the application in December.

This is because the law forbids the opening of new grammar schools.

The school’s governors met in January to discuss a lack of grammar school places and understand that becoming a coeducational school will allow them build in Sevenoaks.

The move has been welcomed by the Sevenoaks Grammar School Campaign group.

Father of three and co-founder Andrew Shilling said: “This is excellent news. Weald becoming a co-ed school will at a stroke overcome the legal obstacles blocking the creation of the Sevenoaks grammar annexe.

"Sevenoaks parents will be delighted that their dream of grammar school places in their home town is finally coming true."

“With over half the students currently attending Weald coming from Sevenoaks, the annexe will not only create new grammar places in Sevenoaks, it will also free up significant extra grammar places in Tonbridge, making it easier for Tonbridge students to gain admission to Tonbridge grammar schools. Everyone will benefit from the new annexe.”