Ambitious plans to create two new schools for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Bath and North East Somerset have taken an important step forward.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has confirmed it has submitted proposals to the Department for Education (DfE) for two new free schools to help meet the rising demand for specialist education locally.
The move comes as the number of children and young people in the area requiring SEND support continues to grow. The council says expanding local provision will reduce the need for costly out-of-area placements and help children remain closer to home, their families and their communities.
Under the plans, a 120-place special free school would be developed on the Culverhay site in Bath.
Alongside this, the council is seeking funding for a new Alternative Provision (AP) free school based at Abbot Alphage School in Lansdown.
Alternative Provision supports children who cannot attend mainstream school for a range of reasons, helping them continue their education in a more tailored setting.
Currently, 28 secondary students receive Alternative Provision at the Lansdown site. If the proposal is approved, capacity would increase to 55 places for both primary and secondary-age pupils by September 2027.
Free schools are state-funded, non-profit independent schools that are free to attend but operate outside local authority control.
The council says keeping children educated within Bath and North East Somerset wherever possible remains a key priority. Providing local specialist education can lead to better outcomes for pupils and their families while also easing pressure on council budgets.
Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Bath & North East Somerset Council, 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 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 submitted its proposals and is awaiting confirmation from the Secretary of State for Education on whether the plans will be approved and when work on the new schools could begin.
Residents, parents and stakeholders have been informed about the plans and will receive further updates as the process progresses.
