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New £20m Cheltenham special school given the green light

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A new £20 million special school for 200 children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has been approved by the planning committee.

Gloucestershire County Council’s planning committee approved the plans on 19 March, marking a significant milestone in delivering a new ‘all‑through’ school for pupils aged 4–16 with Complex Learning Difficulties (CLD), including autism and associated communication and interaction needs.

The school will be built on land owned by the county council to the west of Alstone Croft, accessed via Arle Road. The site is a former playing field previously used by the now‑closed St Benedict’s Catholic School. The new school is expected to open in January 2028.

Demand for special school places continues to rise both locally and nationally, with the highest need focused in the Gloucester and Cheltenham areas. The new Cheltenham school forms part of a wider programme of investment to expand SEND provision across the county.

A £19.5 million 200‑place special school is also due to open in Gloucester in January 2027. This follows the opening of Brook Academy, an £9.75 million 80‑place secondary special school, and Sladewood Academy, a 60‑place primary special school, which opened in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

In addition, over recent years the council has invested £2.7 million to expand existing special schools creating extra places. Despite this significant investment, demand continues to outstrip capacity, meaning some children currently travel out of county or attend independent provision.

Cllr Linda Cohen, Cabinet Member for Education at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I’m delighted that the planning committee have approved the scheme for a brand‑new special school in Cheltenham.

“We want all children and young people to thrive and have access to high‑quality, inclusive education close to home. That’s why we’re investing more than £36 million in new special school places where they are needed most and working closely with schools to put children first.”

The council is also investing £2.7 million in SEND services to meet rising demand for Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) needs assessments and ensure children receive the right support at the right time.

Most children with SEND, including those with EHCPs, are successfully supported in mainstream schools. The council continues to work with schools to strengthen inclusive practice, expand resource bases and SEN units, and improve access to early help through the graduated pathway. Work is also underway to make the EHCP process more efficient and timelier for families.

The new school will be run by Enable Trust, which has extensive experience supporting children and young people with complex SEND needs in the local area.

Andrew Buckton, CEO of Enable Academy Trust, said: “We are delighted that the new special school has been formally approved. This decision recognises the importance of augmenting high‑quality provision for Gloucestershire children with complex learning difficulties.

We look forward to working closely with the county council, local schools, families, and the community to deliver the very best education for children and young people.”