downsmail.co.uk


Science school looks set to open next year


CONSTRUCTION of a new sci- ence school for the county townis nowwell underway. The frame of the School of Sci-


ence and Technology Maidstone (SSTM) is nowcompleted. Contractors created an entrance


off New Cut Road before starting work on the shell of the building, whichwill be run by theValley In- victaAcademies’ Trust (VIAT). VIATco-CEOVicAshdown con-


firmed the SSTMwill open in Sep- tember 2020 after a 72-week build by contractors BAM. The school will start with a 180


year seven pupil intake, but will eventually swell to 1,200. Because of its specialised nature,


the school is likely to attract stu- dents from all over the borough, whichwas one of the reasons there were concerns about congestion. The SSTM was meant to have


been open and running by Sep- tember last year but ended up in a


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planning rowwithMaidstoneBor- ough Council, whose members had concerns about access, bus routes, tree felling and congestion. VIAT challenged the commit-


announced it had taken overman- agement of Swadelands School in Lenham. As well as running Valley Park


tee’s decisionwith the secretary of state and was given the go-ahead to startwork. The curriculumwill be designed


with a focus on Science, Technol- ogy,Engineering andMathematics (STEMsubjects). VIAT is one of the largest educa- tional trusts in Kent, and recently


School and Invicta Grammar School inMaidstone,VIATalso op- erates primary schools in Ayles- ford, KingsHill, Leybourne Chase andHolborough Lakes. Kent County Council expects


there to be a shortfall ofmore than 650 school places in theMaidstone area for students aged seven to 11 by 2021.


News Garden open


KEEN gardeners will be able to have a peek over the wall at the horticultural efforts at a private house inMaidstone. The owner of the 120ft garden at


14AngleseyAvenue is inviting the public to take a look at the raised beds, rockeries and troughs ac- commodating alpine/rock andgar- den plants for charity. The garden is open from 11am


to 5pm on May 3 and 5 and June 1, 2, 4 and 5 as part of the Open Garden for NGS charity event. Admission is £3, free for children. For group bookings, call 01622 299932.


The STEMschool takes shape offNewCut Road and right, Vic Ashdown Music contest


ALL Saints’ Church hosted its ninth annual Organ Competition to encourage young players. First prize in the elementary


category was awarded to Samuel Sleath (14) and ThomasWinrow- Campbell (11).Winner of the ad- vanced class was Ondrej Smolik from Liberec, Czech Republic, and BenMarkovic fromLondon. The festival was first held in


May 2006 and was renamed the Organ Competition in 2015.


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