Tenterden Schools Trust to explore new takeover as Homewood redundancy consultation continues

Tenterden Schools Trust (TST), which oversees Homewood School, the largest secondary school in Kent, has announced plans to explore a potential takeover by a larger educational trust. This development comes amid ongoing consultations regarding proposed redundancies as part of a restructuring programme aimed at addressing the financial challenges faced by the trust.

Homewood School, located in the heart of Tenterden, serves a significant student population of 1,863 pupils. However, the financial pressures have prompted TST to consider a partnership with a larger trust or trusts, which they believe could offer more stability and support moving forward.

Currently, a formal consultation is underway concerning the proposed redundancies. This has raised concerns among staff and members of the National Education Union (NEU), who have opposed the cuts. The NEU's members have been on strike since June 2026, and the possibility of continued action into the next academic year has been raised, highlighting the tensions surrounding the trust's financial decisions.

The situation follows a failed plan to transfer Homewood School along with four primary schools and two nurseries to the Aletheia Academies Trust earlier this year. That effort collapsed in March 2026, prompting TST to seek alternative solutions and work closely with government officials to navigate the challenges ahead.