New secondary school to open for SEND pupils

Inspire Academy is part of York-based Excel Learning Trust

A new independently-run special school is set to open in York.

The Inspire Academy, on Cornlands Road in Acomb, has been officially registered by the Department for Education, following a successful pre-registration inspection by Ofsted.

The facility is due to open its doors for the upcoming autumn term to 40 pupils aged 11 to 16.

In a statement headteacher Rickie Wilson said he was "thrilled" to open the school, which had been developed with a "commitment to creating a nurturing and ambitious environment for young people who need it most".

A spokesperson said the school would serve children with "social, emotional and mental health and other special educational needs".

They said the curriculum would be "ambitious, inclusive, and responsive to individual needs, preparing students for GCSE qualifications and life beyond school".

The Ofsted inspection, which took place in June, praised the school's "broad and well-sequenced curriculum" and said it had "established the foundations of a strong culture of safeguarding".

Inspectors confirmed that Inspire Academy was "likely to meet all the independent school standards when it opens."

Each place will cost £20,000 in state funding.

On the academy's website, it said referrals for admission would be decided by whether a child was on-roll at an Excel Learning Trust mainstream school, required respite to support their existing school place, or were at risk of permanent exclusion.

Requests for places for pupils from other schools or directly from a local authority could also be made directly to the head of school.

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