Plans to create more than 250 extra places with a multi-million pound secondary school expansion have gone out to public consultation.

In March, Kent County Council (KCC) councillors approved proposals to rebuild Wrotham School in Borough Green Road, Wrotham.

The academy, operated by The Character Education Trust, has more than 800 pupils, and if the proposal goes ahead, will offer an additional 45 places per year group from September 2025.

The school would be adapted to provide 265 more places to meet current demand once work is completed.

Once building is finished, the intake of Year 7s at the start of the school year in 2025 would be the first of the new larger year groups.

The Department for Education (DfE) is managing the project, providing £27.5million, with KCC providing another £6.8million to hire out temporary classrooms.

A report presented to councillors ahead of the meeting for the children's, young people, and education cabinet committee in March said the school has already been taking on extra pupils to accommodate local demand since 2021 and will do so again this September.

Officers told committee members that the school is in “poor condition” and rebuilding is necessary to meet current demand.

BAM Construction is acting on behalf of the DfE to provide the masterplan.

There will be provisions for parking, improved pick up and drop off, cycle parking, and external play areas for the pupils.

A consultation public event is due to take place on Thursday, July 20, from 3pm to 8pm at the school.

Anyone who is unable to attend the consultation can visit the website at wrothamschoolpublicconsultation.co.uk from July 20 and will be able to give feedback via the website until August 4.

Comments can also be emailed to wrotham.consultation@bam.com or sent to DHA Planning, Eclipse House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, ME14 3EN.

Comments should be returned by August 4, and there will be a further chance to comment after the planning application is submitted.