Prime Highlights:
- Kent County Council is investing millions to improve education, creating better schools and more opportunities for students on the Isle of Sheppey.
- New schools and expanded student capacity are giving families more choice and improving access to quality education.
Key Facts:
- Over £2.8 million has already been invested in education improvements, with more funding planned.
- Two new special schools opened in 2025, including one providing 120 places for students with additional needs, with further support facilities planned by 2027.
Background:
Kent County Council (KCC) is stepping up its long-term efforts to improve education on the Isle of Sheppey, committing more than £2.8 million in recent funding and outlining further investment to strengthen school capacity and support services across the island.
Working alongside the Department for Education (DfE) and local education partners, KCC has led major changes to the island’s school system over the past few years. In 2025, Oasis Academy Sheppey closed, marking a major change for secondary education on the island. Two new mainstream schools then opened with the support of Leigh Academy Trust and EKC Trust, giving families better options.
This year, demand for school places has increased, with a record number of applications from parents. In response, Leigh Academy Minster has agreed to expand its Year 7 intake from 180 to 210 students, adding 30 much-needed places.
KCC has also focused on specialist education. Two new special schools opened in 2025. One of them, Nore Academy, funded by the DfE, offers 120 places for students with social, emotional and mental health needs. In addition, KCC invested over £2.5 million to support the opening of Snowfields Academy, designed for 60 pupils with autism.
Further developments are already planned. New Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) will open at Richmond and Lansdowne primary schools in September 2026, creating more than 60 places over three years. A 50-place secondary SRP is set to open in 2027, giving more support to students with additional needs.
EKC Group is also improving facilities at Sheppey College as part of a regeneration project led by Swale Borough Council. The project aims to improve education, job opportunities and community life on the island.
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Beverley Fordham, said the council remains committed to ensuring every child has access to high-quality education and the support they need to succeed.
