Future of new Westbury SEND school uncertain

Plans for a new school in Westbury for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) remain uncertain after the project was put on hold.  

The school, which was due to open in autumn 2026 at Bitham Park, was set to provide 130 specialist places for pupils aged four to 19 with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH). The project was put on hold, but the Department for Education (DfE) has recently announced a £3 billion investment to create 50,000 specialist places nationwide. Wiltshire Council said it will review its plans. 

Cllr Jon Hubbard, cabinet member for Children’s Services, SEND, Education and Skills, said, “We will be working with partners and reviewing our high needs places strategy in line with the announcement from DfE.” 

In 2024, Wiltshire Council said it had made a successful bid to the DfE to build a new school in the Westbury area to help meet the growing need for special school places across the county. Brunel Academies Trust was appointed as the proposed provider and already runs several schools in Wiltshire and Swindon, including a SEMH school which opened in Melksham last year. 

The proposed school would provide specialist education for children and young people with SEND in west Wiltshire, an area identified as having an increasing demand for specialist places.