The school was established in 1588 in the parish of St Nicholas by John Southland, a resident of New Romney.

[2] The John Southland Trust scheme was renewed from 22 December 1916 and confirmed by parliament in 1923 "to go to poor children".

[citation needed] From 7 September 1977 until 24 July 2015, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway provided school trains to transport children to and from the Academy.

[6] A school serving a 1000 children in an isolated rural coastal location.

This Kent school or sixth form college related article is a stub.