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A new special school in Gloucester – a significant milestone reached
Published
A key milestone in the council’s plan to further increase the number of special school paces available within the county has been reached. We received news in February that the Regional Director for schools approved the appointment of Reach South Academy Trust as the trust to operate the new special school opening in Gloucester in 2026.
The council, working in partnership with the Parent Carer Forum, selected Reach South Academy Trust as the preferred trust as part of a selection process last year that saw four academy trusts being interviewed.
Dean Ashton, CEO of Reach South Academy Trust, said, “We are delighted to be selected as the trust to run this exciting new special school in Gloucestershire. We are committed to being a high quality, inclusive trust. Our schools cover the whole range of provision for children and young people, and we are committed to providing the very best for children and young people with special educational needs.
“We believe in strong partnerships and work collectively with the full range of partners and very much look forward to working with Gloucestershire County Council, schools, parents, and local community organisations to achieve the very best.”
Reach South Academy Trust runs 17 academies across the Southwest, including The Peak Academy near Dursley (which it took over in August 2022) and two special schools in a neighbouring county.
Representatives from the trust led two well-attended community engagement events on 22nd February where they were able to introduce themselves to parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities from across the county as well as people who live in the Abbeydale area where the school is to be built, subject to planning approval.
Helen Bond, Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum Director, said, “"Our members speak with us regularly about the need for more special school places so we welcome the news that this school will help to meet the needs of their children. We look forward to working with the new Trust and the County Council to ensure that the needs of our children are at the forefront of decision making over the coming months."
Gloucestershire County Council has increased the number of special school places throughout the county to meet growing demand; recently opening Sladewood Academy in Stroud for children aged 4 to 11 and Brook Academy in Brockworth for secondary pupils aged 11 to 16. The new special school will be for children aged 4-16 with Moderate and Additional Learning Difficulties (MALD) and will cater for a broad range of needs. It is being designed to accommodate 200 pupils.
Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member responsible for education at Gloucestershire County Council, said, “Our priority is to make sure all children in Gloucestershire can access the education that best meets their needs. That’s why we’re investing over £30 million into increasing the number of specialist school places throughout the county.
“We’re delighted that Reach South Academy Trust will be running the new special school, and we’re confident that they will help us achieve the best possible outcomes for these children and young people.”
Information continues to be available on the webpage www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/new-special-school-gloucester, which is updated as the project develops and as more information becomes available. On the webpage you will find answers to some frequently asked questions.
Enquiries about placements should, where a child or young person has an EHCP, be made to their named EHCP SEN Case Officer or by emailing sengenenq@gloucestershire.gov.uk