We propose to establish a new school which, when filled, will have capacity for 192 children and young people aged 4 -16 years with a range of abilities and differences associated with autism. All of the pupils will have an Education, Health and Care plan and a primary need of autism.
The school will provide a purposefully designed autism-specific environment with a range of specialist facilities and activities available to support different aspects of learning and development. It will provide high quality specialist teaching to support children and young people whilst developing community relationships, supporting provision in mainstream schools and preparing our young people for adulthood. Pupils in the school will have access to high quality therapies and health provision on site.
The only route to establishing a new school in the city is to follow the Department for Education 's (DfE’s) Free School Presumption process to appoint a multi-academy trust (MAT) to run the school. This consultation is the first stage of that process.
The school will provide a purposefully designed autism-specific environment with a range of specialist facilities and activities available to support different aspects of learning and development. It will provide high quality specialist teaching to support children and young people whilst developing community relationships, supporting provision in mainstream schools and preparing our young people for adulthood. Pupils in the school will have access to high quality therapies and health provision on site.
The only route to establishing a new school in the city is to follow the Department for Education 's (DfE’s) Free School Presumption process to appoint a multi-academy trust (MAT) to run the school. This consultation is the first stage of that process.
Proposed site for the new school
The proposed site of the new school is Allendale Road (NE6 2SZ), a brownfield site to the east of the centre of the city which is owned by the City Council.
The site has been chosen because it is council-owned, of sufficient size, and well connected in terms of accessibility to public transport and road networks. Its location, East of the city centre in Byker ward, is on the opposite side of the city to the existing specialist school for autism, Thomas Bewick, so would enable more children with additional needs to be educated in or closer to the area where they live and spend less time travelling to and from school.
There is further information about the background, context and proposals in the consultation document, which you can download below.
In addition to the free school presumption process, we need to develop the plan for the proposed school site, school building capital project and full costs. A site feasibility study has been commissioned to develop this.
The site has been chosen because it is council-owned, of sufficient size, and well connected in terms of accessibility to public transport and road networks. Its location, East of the city centre in Byker ward, is on the opposite side of the city to the existing specialist school for autism, Thomas Bewick, so would enable more children with additional needs to be educated in or closer to the area where they live and spend less time travelling to and from school.
There is further information about the background, context and proposals in the consultation document, which you can download below.
In addition to the free school presumption process, we need to develop the plan for the proposed school site, school building capital project and full costs. A site feasibility study has been commissioned to develop this.
How to respond
Please read the consultation document below before responding to the consultation using the online form.
Please submit your response to the consultation using the online form below by Wednesday 13 March 2024.
If you have any difficulties accessing the online form, or you need this information in a different format, please email us at: schoolorganisation@newcastle.gov.uk
If you have any difficulties accessing the online form, or you need this information in a different format, please email us at: schoolorganisation@newcastle.gov.uk
Stakeholder Consultation
Our SEND Strategy 2023-2028, published in September 2023, sets out our shared ambition which is:
"To create an inclusive city that ensures that children and young people with SEND get the right support at the right time and go on to live their best lives’."
One of the key actions in the strategy is to ensure that there are sufficient specialist places for those that need them, including the development of a new school for those with autism.
Thank you for giving us your views.
Thank you for giving us your views.
