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Proposals to establish a new 200 place special school in Gloucester
Published
Following the news in March this year that Gloucestershire had not been selected by the DfE as one of the areas to be prioritised through the new wave of centrally funded special schools, officers within the Council have been working on proposals to fund and commission this at a local level.
At its July meeting, Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet approved a proposal to allocate £16.5 million to set up a new special school for children with moderate and additional learning difficulties (MALD). With a designation of MALD, it is envisaged that the school would be well placed to support children and young people with a broad range of complex special educational needs and disabilities.
This ‘all-through’ school, for up to 200 primary and secondary aged pupils, is anticipated to open in 2026 and, subject to planning approval, will be built on land owned by the County Council at Wheatridge East in Abbeydale, Gloucester.
Later this year the Council will invite Academy Trusts to apply to run the new school and will recommend to the Secretary of State a Trust that we feel best aligns with Gloucestershire’s vision.
Find more information and frequently asked questions at https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/new-special-school-gloucester