‘A fantastic asset': £10M SEND school plan at former fire centre given go-ahead
A £10m project to convert an unused fire control centre into a school for youngsters with special educational needs (SEND) has been approved.
A £10m project to convert an unused fire control centre into a school for youngsters with special educational needs (SEND) has been approved.
Wakefield Council’s cabinet agreed to proposals to repurpose the building, which was built by the government 16 years ago at a cost of £14m but never used, to provide 120 specialist secondary school places.
The council acquired the site at Snow Hill in March this year and plans to use £10m of high needs provision funding from the Department for Education to complete the work.
Matthew Caton, the council’s portfolio holder for children and young people, told a cabinet meeting that the new school would focus on providing support for children with social, emotional and mental health needs.
He said: “Wakefield does stand above the national average for requirement on this.
“It’s an absolutely fantastic opportunity we have got here.
“I think it is going to be an amazing thing to watch and develop.
“It’s going to be a fantastic asset for this district.
“It is going to deliver what we are already delivering, which is some of the best outcomes for the children in the district.”
Coun Caton also said that, once the school opened, council costs on sending children to specialist facilities outside of the district would be reduced.
The project supports the authority’s broader SEND programme to support families through intervention, improved mainstream inclusion and strengthened specialist provision.
A council spokesperson previously said: “Demand for specialist places is rising nationally and councils everywhere are under pressure to find sustainable solutions.
“The new school is part of how the council aims to meet the challenge locally and make a real difference for families.
“Being closer to home will benefit children, families and communities.”
The facility, at Paragon Business Village, was built in 2010 and originally designed to handle 999 calls as part of a centralisation of emergency services.
But it has been vacant since the project was scrapped by the government when it ran over budget and was hit by IT problems.
Coun Caton said: “It is in very good condition comparative to what it could be.
“It’s going to be a fantastic space that’s going to be easily adapted for its required purpose.
“We are going to make use of a top spec building for the benefit of the district.”