Update regarding land at KEVICC

Update regarding land at KEVICC

We want to share an update with families and the wider community regarding plans relating to land at KEVICC.

Education South West, the trust which KEVICC is part of, is moving forward with plans relating to the sale of land at the school, following approval from the Department for Education (DfE).

The DfE approved the proposal on the basis that the KEVICC estate was originally built to accommodate significantly more students than attend the school today. While the school once served around 1,700–1,800 students, over the past decade, its roll has stabilised, in line with local demographics, to its current size of around 950 students, meaning parts of the estate are no longer required.

The Department for Education requires us, as a condition of granting permission for the disposal of the land, to ensure that we maximise the value received from the sale.

All proceeds from any future sale will be reinvested directly into KEVICC, with funding remaining within the Totnes community. The school will continue to operate as it does currently, on the Redworth and Kennicott sites, and using its sports facilities on the Elmhirst site.

The proposal retains all existing sports provision, including the current all-weather pitch. This facility will continue to be available for shared community use under an ongoing shared use agreement with South Hams District Council.

The investment will support significant refurbishment and modernisation across the estate, including both internal and external improvements to school buildings and facilities, helping ensure KEVICC can continue to serve local children and young people for decades to come.

Importantly:

There will be no impact on the day-to-day running of the school
Teaching, learning and student life at KEVICC continue as normal
All funds raised through any future sale will be directly into KEVICC

As part of the statutory process, a Notice of Disposal has been issued to Totnes Town Council due to the land’s previous designation as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

Education South West recognises the importance of the site to the wider community and is committed to communicating openly and transparently as the process progresses.

FAQs

Q1. What has been approved?

Q2. What will happen to the proceeds of sale?

All proceeds from the sale will be used to update and improve facilities only at KEVICC with all the funds remaining in the Totnes community. KEVICC will continue to comprise the main school site, as well as the Kennicott Centre which serves as a thriving sixth form centre.

The school has not benefitted from optimal levels of capital funding over the last 20-30 years; and in recent years building costs have suffered significant inflationary pressures. As a result, the whole main school site, internal and external, as well as the Kennicott Centre will benefit from wholescale refurbishment and modernisation of the estate, to serve the children of the local community for decades to come.

Q3. Is the school losing its playing fields?

The school’s sports provision and the community use sports provision including the all-weather pitch will not be affected by any land sales.

Q4. What might the land be used for in future?

The Trust is responsible for the disposal of the land. Any future development proposals would be a matter for a future purchaser and would be subject to the local planning authority’s processes.

Q5. Why is this happening now?

The Trust has completed the formal process of assessment and approval with the DfE, and the subsequent issue of consent to dispose of the land by the Secretary of State. The proceeds from the sale will enable KEVICC to move forward with plans to improve and modernise facilities for pupils.