Plans to bring two new specialist schools to the former Culverhay School site in Bath are set to move forward after long-awaited government funding was confirmed.
The former Culverhay site, which became Bath Community Academy
A national capital programme worth at least £3 billion over the next four years will create an estimated 50,000 new places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in schools across England.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has confirmed that the package includes money for Green Ways Academy, a new special school, and Sulis Academy, an alternative provision school, both earmarked for the Culverhay site.
Between them, the schools are expected to offer 120 SEND places and 55 alternative provision places for children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset.
The project had been paused for around 18 months while the government completed a spending review.
Speaking at a B&NES Council committee, Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Communications and Community, said: “This announcement strengthens our plans for two new free schools: Green Ways Academy (special school) and Sulis Academy (alternative provision), both due to be delivered on the Culverhay site in Bath.
“These schools will provide much-needed specialist places for children and young people, reducing the need for families to travel out of area for appropriate provision. This will also help manage council finances by lowering transport costs and improving sustainability.
“We very much look forward to improving the provision in our community.”
She added: “This is money that definitely will unlock the possibilities of us being able to do what we have committed to do on the Culverhay site.”
Liberal Democrats locally have been pressing for the release of the funds. Last week, Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse challenged the Prime Minister in the House of Commons over how long families would be left waiting for a new special school.
Reacting to the confirmation that funding is now in place, Wera Hobhouse said: “I’m very pleased that the Government has now decided to release funding for this much-needed new special school.
“Families in Bath have been waiting years for this, and the delay meant children were forced to travel further and wait longer for the support they deserve.
“I’m glad that the pressure we have applied has helped to bring about this decision. Just last week the Prime Minister told me he was determined to fix a SEND system that fails parents and fails children.
“This announcement is a step in the right direction and a welcome win for families in Bath.
“However, there is still much more to do. I will be scrutinising the Government’s long-anticipated and delayed SEND white paper closely to see whether it delivers the real reforms needed to fix a broken system and ensure vulnerable children are properly supported.”
Odd Down ward councillor Steve Hedges said the news marks an important milestone for the community.
He said: “Culverhay is very close to the community’s hearts and we are delighted that this brings us a step closer to bringing the site back into use for education.
“Local residents and councillors have been campaigning for this. The new schools will help reduce the long journeys many children have to take to access specialist education.”
Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, highlighted the administration’s previous pledge over the site. He said: “The Liberal Democrat administration gave a commitment to keep an education presence on the Culverhay site, after the closure of Bath Community Academy a few years ago.
“We have been working hard to lobby the government to fund the new schools, as some of our most vulnerable children have had the challenge of travelling out of B&NES for education.
“We are proud we have been listened to and will be treating this as a priority.”
In a statement, Bath & North East Somerset Council welcomed the government’s investment, saying it would help more children “learn and thrive closer to home”.
The council said it is confident the announcement allows it to proceed with Green Ways Academy and Sulis Academy on the Culverhay site, easing pressure on families who currently travel out of area and helping reduce transport costs.
The extra funding will also enable the authority to look at expanding SEND provision within existing schools or creating new resource bases.
The council said it remains committed to working with partners and trusts “to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people with SEND”, and thanked the Department for Education for its continued support.
