A £5 million injection to expand a special school in Kendal has been agreed by the county council.
The authority’s cabinet has given the go-ahead for the plans at Sandgate Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, a school for children and young people between the ages of three and 19.
The school operates a satellite campus at The Queen Katherine School, where KS4 and KS5 pupils are educated to foster integration between general and special needs pupils
The funding will expand the Sandgate School satellite campus at The Queen Katherine School to also accommodate pupils in Key Stage 3.
This means all secondary age pupils will be educated on the same site. The development will also increase the overall capacity of Sandgate School to 120 – 40 nursery/primary places and 80 secondary places.
F Parkinson Ltd will deliver the building work, which should be completed by early summer.
Councillor Sue Sanderson, cabinet member for schools and learning, said: “This is great news for children with SEND. Having all secondary age pupils able to attend the campus at The Queen Katherine School will really make a huge difference, it’s so important that wherever possible children with SEND are included alongside their peers as part of the community, breaking down barriers and prejudices. In addition, the increased capacity means we’ll be able to educate more local children with SEND closer to home.”
Coun David Southward MBE, cabinet member for economic development and property, said: “This is a key strategic investment in education for children with SEND. It is one element of our Inclusive Cumbria strategy which is all about the delivery of services to meet changing needs and providing facilities closer to home for SEND children and young people who need them. I look forward to seeing work completed.”
Jon Hayes, headteacher at The Queen Katherine School, said: “This development is a really positive enhancement for the students at both Sandgate and The Queen Katherine School.
“The co-location already brings benefits for both sets of students and this expansion will build upon the many years of successful collaboration that have gone before.
“Our aim is to provide the best and broadest possible educational experience for all of our young people and having Sandgate students as part of our community is a key part of that philosophy.”
