Leigh Academy, set to take over the Minster campus of the Oasis Academy starting in September, is extending a warm welcome to parents and students with an open day event.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 24, when the open day will be held at the school’s location on Minster Road. The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon, providing an excellent opportunity for parents and pupils to explore the facilities and learn more about the upcoming changes.
One of the significant changes to come is the expansion of the Snowfields Special School, which will operate on the same site and accommodate up to 60 pupils. Many of these students have been diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum, and this expansion aims to provide specialized education and support to meet their unique needs.
Mathieu Stevens, the incoming principal, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and expansion, saying, “I am thrilled that Leigh Academy Minster’s fantastic site has been chosen to support the expansion of this truly outstanding academy. Leigh Academy Minster and Snowfields staff and students will benefit from this partnership with a range of opportunities for collaboration, sharing of best practices, and supporting each other.”
The Snowfields Special School, part of the Leigh Academies Trust, is scheduled to commence operations in a renovated, separate building in September 2025. This expansion project has received substantial support from Kent County Council, with an investment of £2.5 million. The school’s excellence has already been recognized by Ofsted inspectors, earning an “outstanding” rating, and it currently operates two campuses in Bearsted and Cranbrook.
The presence of Snowfields on the Isle of Sheppey will significantly benefit local families, as over 160 children currently travel to the mainland for specialist classes. This development aims to address the needs of children with educational health and care plans (EHCP) requiring a special school on the Isle of Sheppey.
KCC councillor Mike Whiting, representing Sheppey, commented on the initiative, saying, “For too long, there has been no provision on the Island for those with an EHCP requiring a special school. It was estimated at a recent meeting that 50% of the children at the Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey have some sort of special educational need, mental health or behavioural issue. To help meet this need, and to meet it locally, I fully support the proposal by the Leigh Academy Trust to expand the Snowfields Special School by establishing a new satellite of Snowfields for 60 pupils on the Isle of Sheppey.
The open day offers parents and students a glimpse into the future of education on the Isle of Sheppey, highlighting the commitment to providing specialized support and learning opportunities for all.
