School journeys spark parents' anger - councillor

Parents are concerned children face four-hour round trips to secondary schools

Parents in Sheppey have told a councillor their children are distraught since learning they face a 30-mile journey to school.

Children on the island were given places in schools as far away as Maidstone or Faversham earlier this week instead of one of the two secondary schools on the island, Sheppey councillor Mike Whiting said.

He said parents told him "their children simply haven't slept since they heard the news that they may be subject to these massively long journeys to school every morning".

The BBC has contacted Kent County Council (KCC) for comment.

Mr Whiting added he is lobbying KCC for an estimated extra £150,000 funding to take in an additional 30 children.

Bulge classes occur when schools see a larger number of children applying for secondary spaces than the years before.

Central government provides funding based on student intake in the previous academic year, with the local authority picking up the shortfall.

Mr Whiting said: "This has been a devastating week for those parents that were affected."

Two new secondary schools replaced the failing Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey after it was rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2022.

The schools - EKC Secondary and Leigh Academy Minster - have seen a rise in numbers of children attending, when they were previously choosing to go to high school in Sittingbourne.

Mr Whiting said: "The parents really have put their faith in these new schools."