Above: St Paul’s Catholic School in Leadenhall and early high-level plans for the extension
Milton Keynes City Council has developed plans to expand the number of local school places and support available for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
This includes the construction of a new specialist teaching unit at St Paul’s Catholic School. The dedicated three classroom block will provide places for an additional 24 pupils including teaching spaces with breakout areas, intervention rooms, a communal area and garden.
A decision to approve the new teaching block is set for 29 November with works expected to begin shortly after.
The expansion of St Paul’s Catholic School is one of several projects the City Council is looking to take forward to increase local support for children and families with SEND.
“It’s important that we continue to build our network of specialist support for young people with additional needs. We already have six excellent special schools in Milton Keynes but as the city continues to grow, we expect higher demand for places. The new teaching block at St Paul’s has been designed with the views of existing pupils in mind and will be a welcome boost for the school.”
Earlier this year, the City Council took a decision to expand Stephenson Academy, an existing special school in Stantonbury with four new classrooms plus intervention and therapy spaces to help 32 pupils.
Since 2015, the City Council has opened six new schools and expanded 22 others in total, creating thousands of new school places.