A NEW special school for children with autism has been approved by the education secretary with twice the number of places than originally planned.
Secretary of State for Education Lucy Powell has given the go-ahead for the 96 place Garden Village Free School in Darlington.
The facility will be built on land owned by Darlington Borough Council and will join the Education Village Academy Trust, which already runs schools and a sixth form college for neurodivergent pupils.
Originally designed to cater for 48 pupils, the Department for Education has agreed to double provision for 11-19-year-old students with autism spectrum disorder to meet local need. A multi-million pound investment, the state-of-the-art school will be built in West Park.
Around 100 staff, including a principal, a deputy, teachers, teaching assistants and therapists, will work in the brand new facility, off Newton Lane.
DfE has committed to spend more than £105m over the next four years by building 15 special needs schools to meet a growing demand for places following greater recognition of pupils’ learning difficulties, particularly around autism.
EVAT already operates two highly successful schools and a college for children with additional needs – Beaumont Hill Academy and Sixth Form College and Marchbank Free School. It also runs Gurney Pease Academy, Reid Street Primary School, Whinfield Primary School, Springfield Academy and Haughton Academy.
Its chief executive Marie Roe said: “The Garden Village School will improve the learning experience of pupils with SEND in Darlington, many of whom have to travel great distances from home for their education. It will offer children and young people a great learning experience in their own community. Having such a provision on their doorstep will build their resilience, relationships and be so much better for their life chances.
“As a Trust, our core strength is built on the expertise we have developed at Beaumont Hill and Marchbank to offer an exceptional learning experience to children who need the most support.
“This is a tremendously exciting opportunity which will allow us to prepare these young people for adulthood. It will be an inspirational learning environment that will maximise outcomes for young people, ensuring they have the right skills to benefit themselves and the town.”
Darlington Borough Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Nick Wallis said: “This is fantastic news for Darlington families. The new school will provide much-needed specialist places locally, reducing the need for pupils to travel and helping more young people access the support they need to succeed. We’re delighted to be working with the Education Village Academy Trust to make it happen.”
Facilities will include science laboratories, arts and ceramic studios, engineering and design technology workshops and a forest school.
Garden Village School pupils will also have access to a range of specialist resources and enrichment opportunities at the Education Village, including an interactive theatre, a youth club, secured outside spaces, and sports facilities featuring indoor and outdoor playing courts, playing fields, a 25-metre swimming pool and a hydrotherapy pool.
All pupils will be offered personalised study programmes leading to a range of qualifications and careers guidance, enabling them to successfully move on to further education, training or employment. EVAT already has strong links with Darlington College and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College to support post-16 learning.