Plans to create two new schools for children and young people needing specialist support in Bath & North East Somerset have moved a step closer.
The former Culverhay site, which became Bath Community Academy, will soon be demolished
The council says rising demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision has led it to press ahead with proposals aimed at expanding local support and cutting the need for costly placements outside the area.
Under the plans, the local authority wants to establish a 120-place special free school at the Culverhay site in Bath. It is also seeking funding for an Alternative Provision free school at Abbot Alphage School in Lansdown.
At present, 28 secondary pupils receive Alternative Provision education at the Lansdown site. If approved, that number would rise to 55 places for both primary and secondary-age children by September 2027.
The authority has submitted its proposals to the Department for Education after councils across the country were invited to apply for new free schools.
Free schools are state-funded, non-profit independent schools that are free to attend but are not run by local authorities.
Abbot Alphege Academy at Beckford Drive in Bath
The council says keeping children and young people in education within Bath and North East Somerset wherever possible remains a key priority. It says strengthening local provision would improve outcomes for families while also easing pressure on budgets by reducing reliance on out-of-area placements.
Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Providing a local specialist school as part of wider work to transform SEND support in Bath & North East Somerset, not only avoids long distances for children and their families to have to travel but also in the longer term reduces costs to the authority.
“We have put the Culverhay site forward to the DfE for development and as part of that we also want to expand Alternative Provision at our Abbot Alphage school which has the capacity to take more students rather than as first proposed on the Culverhay site.
“However, we are realistic about the challenges ahead. Special school places are urgently needed, and while we welcome DfE progress, we remain cautious about the timescales involved.
“We will continue to press the DfE for clarity and pace so that families see the benefits as soon as possible.”
The council has now formally submitted its decision to the Department for Education and is waiting to hear from the Secretary of State for Education on whether the plans will be approved and when work on the special free school can begin.
Residents, parents and other stakeholders have been written to, and the council says further updates will be shared once more information is available.
