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Fresh calls for action on £2.2m school revamp

Danley Middle School, Halfway
Danley Middle School, Halfway

Politicians are calling for urgent answers about the future of an Island primary school – after this year’s new intake of pupils had to be housed in mobile classrooms.

KCC has always planned for Halfway Houses Primary School children to move to the old Danley Middle School, which closed when Sheppey’s education system changed.

But three years after Danley shut there is still no news about when the move might take place.

The Danley Road school needs around £2.2m worth of refurbishment before it’s fit for purpose.

It is likely to be funded by the Department for Education’s (DoE) Priority Schools Building Programme but this means work will not start until 2014.

MP Gordon Henderson and Cllr Ken Pugh have now asked the government to consider the Island a top priority so can work start before then.

If this can’t happen, it is hoped KCC can pay out of its school budget and reclaim the money from the government.

Mr Henderson has written to the DoE supporting a request from KCC cabinet member for education Cllr Mike Whiting to bring the work forward and get Halfway listed as a priority.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson
Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson

He said it’s not a question of if it gets done, just how it’s paid for.

Mr Henderson is supporting KCC in its plea to the government to get something done as quickly as possible.

“I am pressing for this,” he said.

“It was KCC that decided to change the education system and gave me a promise no school that had to convert to a primary would be at a disadvantage,” he added.

“It was KCC that promised governors, teachers and pupils at Halfway they would be transferring and if that had happened immediately we wouldn’t be in this position.

“I can understand why KCC wants the money from government, I’m just concerned that because of that there will be another two-year delay and another two lots of children put to a disadvantage.”

County and borough councillor Mr Pugh said he’s unhappy and disappointed as he had been promised work at Danley would have started by now.

“I’m spitting feathers,” he said.

“We need answers as we’ve just had to get mobiles at Halfway for 35 new children this year.

“Something has got to give – we can’t have mobiles popping up all over the place. We need to start it now.”

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