‘Exciting’ plans for a new £17m school for children with special educational needs and disabilities have taken a step forward. The much-needed school would be built on the vacant Orrishmere Primary School site, in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport and cater for up to 133 pupils.
Stockport does not currently have enough SEND places, meaning that each year many children are sent out-of-borough for their education - a situation bosses predict is only likely to get worse. But in 2020 the council successfully bid for government cash to create a new SEND secondary school in the area.
A ‘free school’ it would be run by Prospere Learning Trust, which has four other schools in south Manchester. Now contractor Spatial Initiative Limited - which is developing proposals with the Department for Education - is to hold a public consultation prior to submitting a planning application.
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An exhibition day will be held at St Andrew’s Church on Monday, where residents are invited to view draft drawings and comment on the proposals. Presentation boards will also be available to view online from the same date. Images cannot be released beforehand due to strict Department for Education procedures.
Those developing the scheme say they are ‘keen to hear the views of the local community’ before finalising the proposals.
A flyer circulated to locals reads: “Members of staff from the school, the design team and the appointed contractor will be available to talk you through the proposed scheme and answer any questions you may have. Your feedback will be valuable in helping to shape the scheme before submission of an application for planning permission later this year.”
Describing plans as ‘exciting’ the leaflet explains that the new school building would be part-one storey/part-two storey and sit centrally within the Worcester Road site. A drop-off area would be provided to the north with staff car parking provided to the west of the plot. The rest of the land would be reserved for play space, improved landscaping, tree planting and retained woodland.
There would also be a multi-use games area for the benefit of the school, as well as the wider community outside of school hours. Vehicle and pedestrian access would still be via Worcester Road. Deputy council leader Wendy Meikle has been given a briefing on the scheme and seen some of the proposed designs.
And Coun Meikle, whose responsibilities include children and education, says she ‘can’t see anything I don’t like about the plans I have seen’. “The facilities are absolutely superb for these young people,” she added. There’s also a massive need for young people with special educational needs in Stockport and building this type of school.”
It is understood the move will save the council £30k per pupil, per year - or £150,000 over the course of their secondary education. “There will be a saving because school transport is very expensive,” she Coun Meikle told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
She also believes it would be beneficial for the children not having to spend so much time travelling. “It must be a very long day for them,” she said, while noting that it must put ‘added pressure’ on families. “At the minute I can’t see anything I don’t like about the design of the school. The designs look good, a lot of consideration and thought has gone into it.”
Coun Meikle has sought assurances over the longevity of the modular school building, traffic and parking issues and has been ‘satisfied’ with the answers so far. The Offerton councillor has been told that around 70pc of pupils would arrive via minibus and arrival times would be staggered to further ease the potential traffic impact. She has also been assured the new building would last as lock as a traditional brick structure.
However she said she would keep ‘an open mind’ on it and listen to what is said at the consultation.
The exhibition event will take place at St Andrew’s Church, on Cheadle Road, Cheadle Hulme, between 3pm and 8pm on Monday (June 6). Presentation boards will also be available to view online from Monday. Feedback can be provided via the online form.
Further details will be available at www.caulmert.com/peartree
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