CAMPAIGNERS who fought to stop Wiltshire Council from closing three special schools, have said that their work still continues.
Members of the group ‘Keep Special Schools Local’ say that they will continue to work with the council to encourage a ‘one school across three sites’ model.
Originally, Wiltshire Council had proposed to close all three schools – St Nicholas School in Chippenham, Larkrise School in Trowbridge and Rowdeford near Devizes – and replace them with one new special school at the Rowdeford site.
Following huge opposition from parents, the council backtracked on their decision, and are now proposing to establish a new maintained special school by September 2021, with a single leadership team to work across all three existing sites. New facilities will be built by September 2023 on the Rowdeford site to accommodate up to 400 pupils.
The council says that the need to provide additional space is ‘urgent’ as an additional 220 spaces are required across the county.
However, there is still a risk of the schools in Chippenham and Trowbridge closing – Wiltshire Council’s proposal says that the sites of St Nicholas and Larkrise will ‘stay in use until the new provision is ready’. And that further consultation will take place no later than 12 months before opening of the new provision in Rowdeford to ‘consult on options regarding bringing all pupils from the three sites onto the Rowdeford site’ and the ‘appropriate number of sites required in light of demand’.
Wiltshire Council will now present this proposal to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator who will make the final ruling on these proposed arrangements. The council hopes to start the development at the beginning of 2020.
From the ‘Keep Special Schools Local’ campaign group, Emily Wadds and Jan Winfield said, “The ‘Keep Special Schools Local’ campaign very much continues. Members of the group have been working with Wiltshire Council since May to help put together the three-site school proposal which keeps special school education in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Rowde.
“We are pleased Wiltshire Council are committed to working with parent/carers and governors to ensure the best possible outcomes for children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) in Wiltshire, both now and in the future. We want to see a joined up approach in which the three site special school works together with our mainstream schools and resource bases to deliver outstanding education and care to all our most vulnerable children. We look forward to continuing to work with Wiltshire Council in an open and transparent manner for the benefit of all our young people and their families.”
Campaign member, Tony Free added, “As far as I am concerned the real campaign to stop this travesty must begin now. Despite the council sneaking their decision through during the distraction of a General Election, they will not find it as easy as they think to bulldoze through this soulless scheme.”
Cllr Philip Whitehead, leader of Wiltshire Council said, “We have a clear commitment to ensure our SEND pupils can have a first class education in a safe, supportive learning environment so they can reach their potential.
“We had a good discussion with governors, teachers and parent/carers of children/young people with SEND and their representatives at cabinet today (19th November) and I look forward to continuing working together with families, pupils and schools, so we have the best available provision which meets the needs of our SEND pupils now and in the future.”
