James Jordan's former school, St John Fisher, to relocate from Chatham to Rochester
14:11, 14 October 2020
updated: 14:37, 14 October 2020
Medway’s only Catholic secondary school is set to relocate to Rochester .
St John Fisher, a comprehensive which has two sites in Chatham , is planning to move to a new single campus in City Way.
Among its former students are ballroom dancer and television presenter, James Jordan, and retired footballer, Jimmy Corbett who played for Gillingham , Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth and Southend United.
Currently, Years 9 to 13 attend the main building in Ordnance Street, while Years 7 to 8 are based in Maidstone Road, known as the lower school.
Plans are being drawn up by construction company Wates Developments to build on two playing fields at the Star Hill end of City Way.
It was founded in 1964 and has about 1,085 pupils, aged between 11 to 18 on its roll.
It attracts Catholic children from Sheppey and Sittingbourne as well as Medway.
Ward councillor Teresa Murray (Lab) has been to a meeting chaired by the developers and is welcoming the move.
She said: “I’m thrilled for them. The old schools were rundown and very tired looking.
"Also having a split site can create management difficulties. The new design is L-shaped and includes a lovely chapel.”
Although yet to come to a formal planning stage, Cllr Murray said the council’s Labour group would be looking carefully at various issues including access to the site, provision of school transport and any inconvenience to residents and nearby allotment users.
She said if the Ordnance Street site owned by the diocese is sold for development it would include affordable housing.
The Maidstone Road site is still owned by the previous owner, St Joseph’s Convent. Proposals are due to go out for consultation soon.
It is hoped to get the new school up and running in spring 2023 and will have a capacity for 1,185 pupils.
It will include a new building housing both teaching and support areas, chapel, hall, drama and learning resource centre and a four-court sports hall.
There will be a community hub offering opportunities for public use, on site car parking and minibus parking bays, grassed areas with seating and security fencing.
“I’m thrilled for them. The old schools were rundown and very tired looking" – Cllr Teresa Murray
Leaflets have been distributed to residents living nearby about the plans and a consultation process started on Monday prior to submitting a formal planning application.
Attempts to get comment from the school about the plans have been unsuccessful.
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