Valley Invicta Academies Trust

The Valley Invicta Academies Trust (VIAT), one of the largest and most successful educational trusts in Kent, has had their application to open a free school approved by the Department for Education. The department has also asked that the new secondary school be increased in size from four forms of entry to at least six. The school will help to meet the Kent County Council predicted shortfall of secondary school places in the Maidstone area from 2018 onwards. Current plans for the new school are that it will be built on the VIAT campus, which currently houses Valley Park School and Invicta Grammar School. The curriculum will offer world class teaching and learning with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM subjects). The school's industry partners will include the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and its proposed international educational partner is the School of Science and Technology in Singapore. CEO of the Valley Invicta Academies Trust, Dr Philip Limbert said, "We're delighted and privileged to have the opportunity to offer this new school to the people of Maidstone. We look forward to working with all of our partners and stakeholders as we develop this exciting project over the coming months."