End of the road for the Sevenoaks Grammar Annex?

[Minty]

So much has changed since the idea of the annex was put forward. Judd, Skinners, Togs have all added additional classes and Judd has now changed criteria in favour of local children.
Perhaps it would be better to allow Trinity Schooll the additional space to expand (as this would benefit children of all abilities) and build a new primary school on the site next to it, as there seems to have been a lot of pressure on primary places this year.

Just a thought...

[Goody]

Apologies if this has been mentioned before, but does anyone know why it states on the board outside of the new Trinity school building complex 'Planning permission granted for Sevenoaks Grammar annexe'; is this not misleading or am I missing something

[mystery]

It did get planning permission despite the fact that there was no permission from DfE etc to have a grammar annex in Sevenoaks .... think it met the criteria for planning permission - but if they built it they might not be able to use it as a grammar annex so it couldn't be used for the purpose for which permission was granted ........ it is all a little odd.

[mystery]

Has any building started yet I.e. Is either a trinity or grammar building growing upwards yet?

[chimera-ma]

No. The builders are working long hours and there is a crane on the main site. There is a concrete floor in place now for the Trinity new build but I can't see many building materials onsite. The intended grammar annexe location is too far from the road to see if it also has a concrete base in place.

[chimera-ma]

Have just seen on KCC's website (planning portal):

A two-phase development is now proposed: Trinity's new buildings in time for September 2016; the annexe as a second phase, due to the delay in central government approval. (Yes, Mystery: into the long grass, I know...)

There is no change to the planned size or purpose of either school, so still 4FE for Trinity and 6FE for the annexe, both still as secondary schools only.

The proposed amendments to the original application are subject to public consultation until 28 August, so I imagine we won't see anything major happening onsite until after that date.

[mystery]

Ah, thanks. Which search words did you use?

[chimera-ma]

Quick method: from main search page, go directly into 'Advanced Search' option, enter 'SE' only - rather than a fuller Application number - in top field; and 'Seal Hollow Road' in street address field. You can further tailor by dates, but the search will otherwise show most recent entries first.

Those search criteria will bring up all postings relating to the Wildernesse site, including related works not actually in Seal Hollow Road, eg cycle route proposals and road/crossing improvements on the A25.

[mystery]

Ah, thank you. So somewhere or other they have decided not to take the risk of building an empty school for a grammar annexe with no e f a permission.

[chimera-ma]

I suppose there is not much point in having an indefinitely empty building or a building not readily adaptable for alternative educational use, such as a primary school, should the annexe proposal be rejected.

However, it would be a shame for Trinity staff and children if, having put up with the noise and dust of their own new building going up, they were then to have a further year or two of dealing with similar bustle and pollution while the grammar annexe (or whatever) is being built. Although they'd be better insulated in their permanent home by then, it would still be far from ideal.