Plans formally submitted to build new SEND school in Padgate

Warrington Borough Council has received an application from the Department for Education for the 56-place school for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

This is on a green field on the corner of Blackbrook Avenue and Birchwood Way in Padgate.

The site was historically used as a rugby playing field behind Christ Church, but activity is said to have ceased at the site 10 years ago.

The vision is to build a new two-storey specialist SEND school, which would feature a main hall, general teaching and specialist classrooms, dining hall, kitchen, staff offices and reception.

According to designs submitted as part of the application, the new school would be called Seymour Academy.

The site would also feature a multi-use games area, outdoor space, hard and soft landscaping, external canopies and a polytunnel.

In addition, a new access road would be built with a designated drop-off and pick-up system, with the site also to include 40 car parking spaces, two accessible bays and two mini-bus bays.

The application site in Padgate, on the corner of Blackbrook Avenue and Birchwood Way

The building has been designed to be net-zero carbon in operation, plans state, utilising on-site renewable technologies such as air source heat pumps and solar panels and the creation of a ‘green roof’.

The school would be run by The Sovereign Multi-Academy Trust, which runs four special needs schools in the Greater Manchester area.

Planning documents state: “The new school building is proposed to be a special school which will predominantly cater for ambulant pupils.

“The school will primarily meet the needs of pupils with autism spectrum condition, but if needed, places will be provided for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) and speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

“It is not envisaged that the school will cater for profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) needs, however it is the case that pupils with multiple or non-ambulant issues and needs (including ASD) may need to be considered.”

The application highlights that a council cabinet report from May last year states that there is a need for more special schools in the town, as there are not enough places for children within the borough.

One other site was reviewed in the selection process, namely Bruche Primary School, but this was discounted over flood zones, access and land near the primary school already being earmarked for expansion due to ‘unprecedented demand for primary school places’.

An impression of how the new school would look if built

Last month, the council revealed it was launching a consultation on plans for a major expansion of Bruche Primary School to transform it into an all-through academy, offering education from ages five to 16 from 2026.

Plans for the new special school add: “On the basis of the above, it is considered that the site subject to this planning application is the most suitable to deliver the much-needed SEN school places in the borough.

“The council has identified and evidenced a significant and clear need for SEN places, and having undertaken their own site search, identified the application site as the best available and deliverable site that can meet this significant need.

“In the absence of this proposed school, many children in the borough will continue to have to travel out of the borough, which is unsustainable and extremely difficult for the children involved and their families.”

This application comes following a separate planning bid being submitted to convert sections of Warrington’s iconic Peace Centre for special educational needs (SEN) use.

This looks to create a provision of a post-16 and post-19 educational facility within the Peace Centre building, including classrooms and multi-purpose spaces.

The Peace Foundation would continue to occupy space within the building for office use a multi-use space for occasional activities.