Special School Developments

Why we are making these changes:

• we are investing in extra places to support children with SEND in Wiltshire Council
• to drive high quality inclusive education across all schools and settings
• enhance SEND staff professional development and knowledge shareing
• increase access to health and care support in schools
• provide more outreach support to mainstream schools as part of our wider system of excellence work, including more resource base places
• Invest in post-16 special education and good transitions to independent living

The plan:

• bring Larkrise, St Nicholas and Rowdeford schools under one school leadership team by 2021
• build up to 400 places on the Rowde campus with £38.5 million by 2023/2024
• at a later date, consult on options regarding bringing all pupils from the three campuses onto the Rowde campus

Timeline for Silverwood School

1. September 2020 - New single school launches across three sites. New single Full Governing Board starts, replacing three separate ones. Interim executive headteacher starts in post
2. September 2020 to June 2021 - Working together to create new school identity and design of new build at Rowde campus. New School name decided - Silverwood School
3. Spring 2021 - Submit planning application
4. April to September 2021 - Launch of new school identity - Including logo and uniform
5. March 2022 - Main build work starts at Rowde campus
6. Summer 2024 - Main teaching block at Rowde campus ready to use including 350 places across early years, primary secondary and sixth form, a hydrotherapy pool, outdoor learning and play equipment
7. September 2025 - Follow-on refurbishment works completed and campus fully operational

Updates from Silverwood School can be found on the school website Silverwood School: New Build Updates (opens new window). 

Watch: vimeo: Silverwood School, Wiltshire, Time-lapse May 2024 (opens new window) 

Springfields (Calne) will offer 40 additional school places because of the council investment in the remodelling of the Aspen building.  The former residual building is being refurbished to create additional classrooms. The new classroom block will open in autumn 2024. 

Wiltshire Council are working in partnership with REACH South/Springfields Academy to produce a business case for the development of Alternative Provision in both the north and south of the county.  The opening of the AP Free School is subject to acceptance of the business case by the DfE. 

The Salisbury Academy of Inspirational Learning is a new special education free school that is part of the Reach South Academy Trust. The school offers full time special education, care and therapeutic support to vulnerable children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). SAIL is welcoming and working with a neurodiverse population of up to 150 children aged between 4-19 with a primary diagnosis of autism or a SEMH (social, emotional, mental health) profile.  The new building on Wilton Road, Salisbury, has been occupied since January 2024 with the first cohort of 83 learners in 2023/24.  The school population will grow to up to 150 in 2024/25.  

In 2023 Exeter House became part of Brunel Academies Trust. To accommodate the rising demand for school places, 'Stay and Play' and 'Play and Learn' sessions have been introduced for Early Years pupils. From 2024/25 the Exeter House school campus on Somerset Road will be joined by a satellite school provision at Pembroke Park.  

The expansion of Exeter House special school is a key priority for the Trust and the Council.  We are prioritising the development of a second campus with 120+ permanent school places.  A preferred site has been identified and the project is in an early 'pre-feasibility' stage. A target date for opening in 2025/26 has been set. 

Wiltshire Council has made significant investment in Melksham House to refurbish it for its next use as a special school for learners with an SEMH profile.  The ground floor will be used for primary education; the first floor predominantly for secondary-aged learners.  As of April 2024, tenders have been received from potential education providers, who will work with the Council to offer education services from 2024/25.  

The former Calder House School was acquired by Wiltshire Council in December 2023.  The school will be renamed (working title The Northwood Centre) to reflect its new use as Alternative Provision for secondary age pupils in Wiltshire.  A specification has been written for OFSTED registered education providers to run the centre from 2024/25.

In 2023, Wiltshire Council learnt it had been successful in its bid for an SEMH Free School.  In early 2024, Brunel Academies Trust was successful in its bid to become the education provider.  A site for the school has been identified.  Delivery of the school at Bitham Park, Westbury, is subject to feasibility studies and planning permission. 

Brunel has set out its vision for the school:

Bitham Park school will provide a personalised approach to provision and looks at the origin and function of a child's behaviour when constructing the appropriate educational and therapeutic model. Early assessment and identification of need is key. Our school will provide the flexibility of provision to support the diverse and often complex need of Wiltshire SEMH population. As a result, the proposed school will be flexible in its approach and respond to a range of neurodiverse need.

Preferred site for SEMH Free School: Gas House Farm, Bitham Park, Westbury.