Agenda item

The CMR for Education introduced the report in respect of establishing a New Autism Special Free School in Worcestershire. The context aroundthe rising numbers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Worcestershire and the priority of ‘improving autistic children and young people’s access into education and supporting positive transitions into adulthood was explained.

The Council, at the time of developing the bid for the school, identified it had 83 Worcestershire children and young people with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and a primary need of Autism who were accessing their education in Independent, Non-Maintained Special schools in or out of county, costing on average £58k per place, a total of £4.8m per annum. 

The CMR refenced the work undertaken by Worcestershire Children First (WCF) and the Department for Education (DfE) in respect of the process for establishing the new school. This included the proposed location and site being Poolbrook, Malvern, the revenue funding required for the number of school places and the Statutory Consultation process. The provisional opening date for the school was September 2027.

The DfE had recently announced that MacIntyre Academies had been chosen to run the new school.

The CMR for Children and Families further explained that the new school was needed to provide opportunities for young people in the Worcestershire community.

During the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

·       The plans for the new school were welcomed both in terms of, the increased provision and the financial benefits it would bring for Worcestershire.In addition, the recent high needs capital funding announced by Government (£6m in 2023/24 and £2m for 2024/25) was also welcomed.

·       The new school was good news for South Worcestershire as was the impact it would have on out of county placements and the wider County. Having more options and choice in Worcestershire was very important.

·       It was noted that 83 children were in out of County placements and that Worcestershire had a higher number of children and young people in special schools than the national average.

Members from outside the Cabinet welcomed the plans for the new school as additional provision was needed in Worcestershire. The need for further future planning was emphasised.

Cabinet:

a)     Endorsed the work undertaken by Worcestershire Children First and the Department for Education in respect of the wave 14 process for establishing a Special free school in Worcestershire;

b)    Noted that a final decision on the choice of sponsor academy trust for the new school rests with the Secretary of State for Education and is due to be announced during 2024;

c)     Approved that the proposed location and site of the new school would be on the Poolbrook site in Malvern, agreed that the required land would be leased to the Secretary of State for Education to develop the new free school on a 125-year lease, and authorised the Strategic Director of Commercial and Change in consultation with the CMR to agree the details of the lease;

d)    Approved the revenue funding set out in the report for the school places following the DfE intention for the new free school to open from September 2027. This is subject to the signing of the funding agreement between the Secretary of State for Education and the selected Academy Trust;

e)     Noted the responsibilities that fall to the Council to meet abnormal site development costs; and

f)      Noted that the statutory consultation under Section 10 of the Academies Act 2010 to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of State for Education to set up a free school rests with the chosen Academy Trust as part of the pre-opening phase.