By Isle of Wight Observer
A special school is looking to expand with plans to open a satellite site in East Cowes.
St George’s School, in Watergate Road, Newport, is proposing to provide extra facilities at the former Studio School in Grange Road, East Cowes, which closed in 2019, as part of a major £200,000 investment by the IW Council.
The current capacity of St George’s is 188 pupils aged 11 to 19 years-old with complex learning difficulties. This proposal would provide an extra 20 places from September.
In 2022 St George’s opened a new sixth-form centre at the former Clatterford Centre, providing bespoke facilities for up to 50 students. Headteacher, Steff Gleeson, described the plans as an exciting opportunity for the school and Island youngsters.
Since 2015, the number of Island pupils with Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs) has increased from 670 to more than 1,600 last year.
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “The lack of provision in Island schools has resulted in more placements in the costlier independent non-maintained specialist sector.
“The council is committed to further developing provision to meet the growth in demand and help children’s needs be met in their local community. This proposal will manage some of the school place pressures generated by the increase in the number of EHCPs.”
A further consultation has also been launched to double — from six to 12 — the number of places for children with Autism Spectrum Condition at Greenmount Primary School in Ryde.
To respond to both consultations, go to iw.observer/schoolconsultations.
Mal Butler