Isle of Sheppey parents threaten court action over school places

A group of parents have said they will take Kent County Council (KCC) to court over the secondary school places their children have been allocated.

The families live on the Isle of Sheppey, but have been offered places at schools on the mainland, which they say will mean a round trip of about 60 miles.

It is thought up to 25 families are affected, many of which attended a public meeting on Wednesday.

KCC said it will be able to offer more places thanks to an agreement with a school on the island, and any pupil who qualifies will be offered transport.

Lorraine Joseph said her son had been offered a place at a school in Faversham.

“There is no direct bus service from where we are to Faversham” she told BBC Radio Kent.

“He would have to be getting a public bus at 10 to six in the morning, to get to Sheerness train station, to get a train to Faversham, then a walk through an unfamiliar town.

“It’s just not realistic for a child of that age.”

Two new schools replaced the failing Oasis Academy after Ofsted rated it inadequate in 2022.

With more families now choosing the island’s schools, rather than those in Sittingbourne, this is thought to be behind the shortage of places, reports the Local Democracy Service.

Parents at the meeting signed an open letter to KCC, with some saying they may have to give up work to home school their children.

A spokesperson for KCC said: “Following an agreement KCC secured to expand secondary places at Leigh Academy Minster after National Offer Day, more offers will be going out over the next few weeks.

“In some cases, parents have chosen to keep their non-island school offer, though a closer school was offered.

“In law, parents are expected to name their nearest school. If they are offered another more distant school, they will qualify for school transport.

“School transport will be provided for children and young people who meet the statutory criteria – and parents can appeal if they think the law has not been correctly applied.”