Plans for a much-needed 200-pupil special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school in Cheltenham have received official approval from Gloucestershire County Council. The new all-through school will be built on the former St Benedict’s School Playing Field on Arle Road, with a focus on supporting pupils with complex learning difficulties.
Designed to accommodate both junior and senior pupils, the school’s classes will be organized primarily by individual need rather than age. It will mainly serve ambulant students but will also feature facilities suited for those with mobility challenges.
The approximately five-acre site will host around 70 on-site staff daily, including 25 teachers, 40 teaching assistants, and administrative personnel, supported by catering and caretaking teams. The campus will feature a loop road for drop-off and pick-up, with space for about 80 vehicles to help alleviate traffic congestion on public roads.
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Parking arrangements include 80 staff and visitor car spaces—with designated accessible bays and electric vehicle charging stations—as well as spaces for minibuses, motorcycles, and bicycles.
Voicing strong support, Helen Bond, director of the Gloucestershire Parent Forum, highlighted the increasing need for specialist education, noting that over 6,500 children in Gloucestershire currently have education, health, and care plans (EHCPs). She stressed the growing demand for SEND placements and the strain on families waiting for appropriate educational provisions.
Andrew Buckton from Enable Trust emphasized their commitment to delivering a specialist curriculum tailored to children with complex disabilities, aiming to benefit both the students and the wider community.
Local councillors, including David Willingham and Victoria Atherstone, expressed enthusiasm for the school’s capacity to serve 200 children in Cheltenham and praised the initiative as “brilliant.” The council debate saw overwhelming support from representatives across parties, with the proposal unanimously approved.
Councillor Willingham expressed satisfaction with the decision, acknowledging the positive impact on families of children with special educational needs and the community’s advantage in repurposing the previously unused land.