Plans have officially been submitted to give a West Cumbrian primary school and a former Carlisle church new leases of life as special needs sixth forms.
Cumbria County Council is investing almost £1 million into the project to meet demand for specialist educational needs provision.
St Joseph’s Primary School in Cockermouth has closed due to dwindling pupil numbers but the county council has identified the site as having potential to meet the demand for SEN spaces.
The council will create a SEN sixth form at the site for Mayfield School in Whitehaven. Oversubscribed places will be increased at Mayfield from 197 to 230 places.
Cumbria County Council said: “St Joseph’s recently closed due to reduced pupil numbers however is ideally suited and would remain an educational unit for 40 pupils however for an older age group.
“The property is in reasonable condition but will require some alterations to suit the needs of the SEND pupils to be accommodated.”
Alterations include a new workshop, greenhouse, two summer houses, minor internal alterations and a vehicle turning area with parking zone and external works. A single storey extension will be included in the plans.
James Rennie School in Carlisle will also receive new SEN facilities to alleviate the “significant pressure” on SEN pupil places heading into the autumn term.
The recently closed St Edmund’s Church building in Carlisle will be converted to create a sixth form campus. The council said: “The proposal includes a small extension to form a lobby and school office area, alterations internally to form classrooms and minor alterations to fenestration together with a vehicle turning area and external works.”
