Plans for new Gloucester special school to be shared

The drop-in event will run from 3.00pm to 6.30pm at Christchurch Church in Abbeydale.  

Representatives from the council, academy trust, and architect will be available to answer questions, and detailed plans for the school will be available for people to review and comment on before a planning application is submitted. 

The new £16.5 million school is due to open in September 2026 and will be an ‘all-through’ school  for up to 200 primary and secondary pupils form ages 4 to 16 with Moderate and Additional Learning Difficulties (MALD). 

If approved, it will be built on land already owned by the county council that has been designated for education purposes, at Wheatridge East in Abbeydale in Gloucester. 

There continues to be an increasing need for special school places in the county, with the highest number of places needed in the Gloucester and Cheltenham areas, and within easy reach of other parts of the county. The shortage of places locally means some children currently must travel to schools out of county or to independent schools to have their educational needs met. 

Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member for education, skills, and bus transport, said: “We’re investing over £30 million to increase the number of special school places in the county so that more children can access the education that best meets their needs at a school close to where they live. 

“I would encourage residents and families to view the plans either at the drop-in event or afterwards online and give their views on the designs.” 

Feedback on the proposals for the school will be used to help form a planning application for the new school, which is due to be submitted in later this year. 

For more information about the new school, visit: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/new-special-school-gloucester