Council wants to go ahead with new special schools

Cambridgeshire County Council has told the government it wants to push ahead with two new special schools.

Greensands Academy in Gamlingay and Lime Academy in March were originally approved by the Department for Education (DfE) under the previous government.

However in December the DfE wrote to the local authority offering an alternative of accepting a funding settlement to increase capacity in mainstream schools.

The council said it had decided it would be better to go ahead with the new schools, which are expected to provide for 270 children and to be open by 2028.

According to the council, demand for special school spaces has continued to grow. It says there are now more than 8,000 children in the county with an Education Health and Care Plan, an increase of 71% since 2020.

Edna Murphy, chairperson of the children and young people committee, said: "Greensands and Lime Academy are a key part of our plans to ensure we have sufficient provision long-term to support the needs of Cambridgeshire's children within the county.

"It's important that the government has confirmed it is willing to deliver these schools, and on behalf of those children who need places I urge the government to act swiftly and without delay.

"We believe a September 2028 opening is achievable and should be targeted. Cambridgeshire's families are relying on government to deliver these school places as soon as possible."

The DfE has been approached for comment.

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