Apply to run our new Special Schools
This page was updated on 17 August to reflect increased school sizes - from 100 places to 120 places each.
We have also added some 'pen pictures' as an example of the type of students that might attend the schools.
As part of our Right Spaces, Right places plan we launched in March 2023, we outlined our aspiration to increase the number of spaces for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the borough, making sure that we offer the right school, to the right child, in the right place, and at the right time.
What we proposed
We don’t currently have sufficient special educational needs places locally to meet the needs of our children and young people with SEND.
Our SEND Strategy 2021-24 identified key gaps in what we have available locally, which has led to an over-reliance on independent special schools. These often limit parents and carers’ choice to meet their child's needs better.
These gaps also result in many pupils being forced to travel considerable distances to get to their special schools—a third of pupils with education, health and care (EHC) plans are required to travel out of borough. This generally isn’t good for anyone as it makes it harder for pupils to participate in before and after school activities, means they spend more time travelling to and from school, and that they live further away from their classmates.
These often do not provide good value for money and can lead to significant overspends in what we spend on our children and young people with more complex needs.
Two new special schools
Before we launched the Right Spaces, Right Places plan we consulted on several proposals and received positive feedback. One of the proposals was to develop two new special Free Schools.
In October 2022, local authorities were invited to bid for up to two new special free schools for their area. We submitted bids for two new schools, which were approved 2 March 2023.
The schools will support young people from the ages of four to 19 with various additional learning needs and go a long way to addressing the shortage of special school places locally. This will ease the pressure on our existing special schools and reduce the numbers of children that must travel outside of the borough to have their educational needs met.
Each school would have 120 places and we propose that one specialises in Social and Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) and the other Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD).
Are you interested in running one (or both) of our new free schools?
We are now looking to find providers to run the new free schools.
The Department for Education have provided the timeline below:
9 May 2023
DfE will publish the How to apply Guidance and school specifications on GOV.UK, with links to the local authority contextual information which you can also see here:
Pre-Registration form: To apply, applicants must register their interest by completing the pre-registration form by 5pm 16 June 2023. Pre-registration is mandatory, and applicants will only receive copies of the application forms once this step has been actioned.
Completed applications must be submitted to the free schools mailbox at fs.applications@education.gov.uk by noon 31 August 2023. Full details on the application process are available at GOV.UK.
Pre register to open new special free schools in approved local authority areas (education.gov.uk)
From 9 May 2023
Local authorities hold engagement events with prospective trusts.
16 June 2023
DfE pre-registration window closes.
31 August 2023
DfE application window closes.
End of October 2023
Assessment of Trust applications ends. Local authorities will be required to feed in any intelligence on applications being assessed in their areas and views on applications being put forward for interviews.
November to December 2023
Trust interviews to take place, with a local authority representative sitting on the panel for all interviews regarding their approved special school.
January 2024
Successful trusts to be announced.
Get in touch
If you would like to speak to someone about one or both of the opportunities, please email colin.mckenzie@wokingham.gov.uk
