More details have been revealed for the Island’s newest school.

Work to demolish the former Danley Middle School and replace it with new buildings could begin in the next few weeks, according to Sheppey councillor Ken Pugh.

Kent County Council (KCC) expect the school, which will be the new home of Halfway Houses Primary, will welcome pupils by September 2014.

It is hoped the new site will also go some way to alleviate the pressure on places in Sheppey.

The Danley Road, Halfway, site will have three classes in each year group, from reception to Year 6, equating to about 630 places.

Halfway Houses, in Southdown Road, Halfway, has 483 pupils but was originally intended to have 420.

The influx of children has meant that temporary classrooms have had to be built on the playing fields.

Chairman of governors at Halfway, Garry Philpott, said: “It is welcome news because we have had four years of waiting and disappointment. Now, it seems we are finally making progress.”

Last week it was announced the build will be partly funded by the government’s Priority School Building Programme.

However, KCC said they had already planned to fund the work selling the land in Southdown Road.

This sale is still planned to go ahead.

KCC leader Paul Carter, speaking to the Times Guardian, defended the sale. He said: “We have a duty to maximise the return of the tax payer. That money will go to fund more schools or school extensions.

“The birth-rate is rising so we must move to create more excellent facilities like this one is going to be.”

A playing field at Danley has been included in the plans for the new school.

There were fears from residents it would be sold off for housing but Cllr Pugh said it has now been secured for community use.

Danley Middle School has been shut since August 2009 when Sheppey’s education system changed from three-tier to two-tier.

It was originally planned to sell off Halfway Houses and use the money to fund a refurbishment of Danley, however, delays meant the deterioration of the middle school buildings added to the cost of relocating.