7th October 2017

• Sheffield is one of 19 local authorities which have been successful in securing funding from the government for a new special free school.

  The new school will provide 40 to 60 places (including 20 short-term placements) for pupils aged 7 to 16 years who have autism and social, emotional and mental health needs. The cost of building and setting up the school will come from the Department for Education, but Sheffield will NOT receive any extra funding for the school places.

  The council hopes that the new school will:

  • Improve the diversity and quality of the education offer in Sheffield and meet a gap in current provision. Some of the pupils in the target group are currently educated in schools outside Sheffield and some are currently out of education.
  • Give parents more choice and give young people opportunities to pursue qualifications in line with their academic potential.

  The deadline for applications to sponsor the new school is 24th November 2017 and the school should open to pupils in 2019 or 2020.