Campaigners Highlight Long Commutes for Weald Students

Support Weald Schooling, a campaign group advocating for the establishment of a non-selective secondary school in the Weald, is currently soliciting public feedback. The group stated that students have been experiencing commutes of up to an hour for their schooling since the closure of High Weald Academy (HWA) in 2022. Comprising local parish councils, the organization indicated that the absence of nearby educational facilities is negatively impacting children’s mental well-being. Their objective is to establish a new school at the former HWA location. Kent County Council (KCC) has indicated that it does not intend to establish a replacement school for HWA. Advocates reported that some parents are opting for home-schooling due to the scarcity of non-selective schools within a 10-mile radius of Cranbrook. They stated: “Children as young as 11 are leaving home before 7am to get to school. “Literally being bussed out of their home town, their primary school friendship groups are exploded across a range of secondary schools. “In some families, siblings are sent in opposite directions to different schools.” Launched in June, the campaign’s online petition has garnered 1,250 signatures to date. Rory Love, KCC cabinet member for education, commented: “The county council will always ensure every child receives an offer of a school place. “We do not, ourselves, intend to seek to establish a new school to replace High Weald Academy, but other routes do exist to establishing new schools through the Department for Education.” Mr. Love and the assistant director for education in West Kent have convened with local parish councils to detail the procedures for opening a free school. Free schools obtain funding directly from the Department for Education and operate without local government intervention. Mr. Love further stated that the closest non-selective school had 59 available Year 7 places for enrollment this September. Support Weald Schooling has scheduled two public meetings for Wednesday at 09:30 and 19:30 GMT at Vestry Hall, Cranbrook, providing an opportunity for individuals to express their views.