New Wiltshire special needs school to open for 130 pupils

The school will also provide specialist provisions for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH)

A new school is set to be built for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) following a successful bid by Wiltshire Council.

The school in Bitham Park, Westbury, will provide specialist support for 130 pupils, aged four to 19.

The Department for Education (DfE) will fund and build the free school, which is likely to open in Autumn 2026.

The education provider will be Brunel Academies Trust, which runs successful schools in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Wiltshire Council said it had successfully applied to the DfE to build a new school to meet the need for more special school places in west Wiltshire.

The move comes in addition to the special schools already built since 2020, it says, with 911 high-needs places and resource bases already created, with even more planned.

'We are committed'

Councillor Jane Davies, cabinet member for SEND, said: "This is welcome news and ensures our long-term ambition, to create sufficient special school places across Wiltshire, takes an important step forward.

"We are committed to ensuring we have sufficient spaces with opportunities for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to ensure they have schooling that provides them with the very best opportunities to learn."

Councillor Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children's services, added: "I am delighted we've appointed an education provider with a proven track record and that can ensure a good quality of learning for our children and young people."

She added: "Our business plan has a clear commitment to finding the right specialist support for children with special educational needs. This latest development is helping us fulfil this important pledge and securing long term provision in Wiltshire."