Families across Bath and North East Somerset are set to benefit from long-awaited investment in specialist education, following confirmation that government funding has been secured for two new schools on the Culverhay site in Bath.
The announcement comes as part of a national commitment to create at least 50,000 new places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), supported by a capital fund of at least £3bn over the next four years.
B&NES Council confirmed today (15 December) that this includes funding for Green Ways Academy, a new special school, and Sulis Academy, an alternative provision school.
Together, the schools are expected to provide 120 SEND places and 55 alternative provision places for children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset. The project had been paused for 18 months while the government’s spending review took place.
Speaking at a B&NES Council committee meeting this morning, Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet member for Communications and Community, said, “This announcement strengthens our plans for two new free schools: Green Ways Academy and Sulis Academy, both due to be delivered on the Culverhay site in Bath.
“These schools will provide much-needed specialist places for children and young people, reducing the need for families to travel out of area for appropriate provision. This will also help manage council finances by lowering transport costs and improving sustainability. We very much look forward to improving the provision in our community.”
She added that the funding now ‘definitely will unlock the possibilities’ of delivering the Culverhay scheme.
Bath’s Liberal Democrat MP, Wera Hobhouse, who raised the issue directly with the Prime Minister during PMQs last week, welcomed the decision. She said, “I’m very pleased that the Government has now decided to release funding for this much-needed new special school. Families in Bath have been waiting years for this, and the delay meant children were forced to travel further and wait longer for the support they deserve.
“I’m glad that the pressure we have applied has helped to bring about this decision. This announcement is a step in the right direction and a welcome win for families in Bath.
“However, there is still much more to do. I will be scrutinising the Government’s long-anticipated and delayed SEND white paper closely to see whether it delivers the real reforms needed to fix a broken system and ensure vulnerable children are properly supported.”
Local ward councillor Steve Hedges said the news was particularly significant for the Odd Down community. He commented, “Culverhay is very close to the community’s hearts and we are delighted that this brings us a step closer to bringing the site back into use for education. Local residents and councillors have been campaigning for this. The new schools will help reduce the long journeys many children have to take to access specialist education.”
Councillor Paul May, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, added that the Lib Dem administration had always been committed to maintaining education on the site. “We have been working hard to lobby the government to fund the new schools, as some of our most vulnerable children have had the challenge of travelling out of B&NES for education. We are proud we have been listened to and will be treating this as a priority,” he said.
