Solent Academies Trust successful bidding to manage new special school in Whiteley

Following a successful bid to the Department for Education, the Trust will manage the  new Special School, which will open in Whiteley in Summer 2027. The special school is intended to provide accommodation for up to 125 children aged  four to 19 with severe learning difficulties. 

The Solent Academies Trust currently manages five special schools which offers specialist care for young people aged between two and 19 years old. The schools that are part of the trust include Redwood Park Academy and Mary Rose Academy. Sharon Burt, chief executive officer, said: “We are incredibly  excited to have approval to lead the new special school for pupils with Severe Learning  Difficulties (SLD). There is an increasingly high demand on specialist places locally  and we want to continue our close working with families, schools, and local authorities  in surrounding communities to ensure that children remain educated locally, with  access to high quality specialist education. We have a wealth of expertise to bring to  our new SLD provision.”

As part of Hampshire’s SEND Strategy for 2023-2027, the county council bid to the Department for Education for two new free special schools under this programme – one in Whiteley and one in Boorley Gardens. Land has already been secured for the Whiteley school.

Andrew Hill, chair of trustees, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected  to run what I know will be a wonderful new school for children with additional needs.  This opportunity sits squarely within our long-term plans to expand our footprint in  SEND education and build on the learning and experience, developed over many  years, from our existing schools. We are also looking forward to working alongside the  other schools in the area to play our part in providing an excellent educational offer for  the area.”

For more information about the new school, click here.