Wakefield is set to expand its specialist education capacity after a lease agreement was finalised to create a new independent special school at the former Wakefield Independent School site on the Nostell Estate. The move brings the vacant building back into use and forms part of the district’s effort to strengthen local SEND provision.
The project will deliver between 90 and 120 places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The aim is to give families access to district-provided provision, reducing the financial burden of out-of-area placements.
Wakefield Council has provided capital funding to support the partnership and will continue working with Venn Academy Trust and the Nostell Estate to progress the opening. The development contributes to the council’s wider plan to increase specialist education capacity and meet rising demand.
Cllr Margaret Isherwood, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “This partnership is an important step forward in improving specialist provision for children and young people with SEND. It means more families will have access to high-quality education closer to home, and it shows our commitment to finding innovative solutions that work for Wakefield. We know there is still more to do, but this is a positive move that will make a real difference for many families and help us build stronger local provision for the future.”
Councils across the UK are under sustained pressure as demand for SEND places grows. Wakefield’s agreement with the Nostell Estate and Venn Academy Trust positions the district to deliver a local, long-term solution that addresses both cost pressures and the requirement for high-quality specialist education.
