Plans for new school are scrapped after concerns
PL ANS to open an independent special school in a Huddersfield town centre building have been dropped after concerns over its location were raised by an Ofsted inspector.
Social enterprise organisation Employability Solutions (ES) had plans for a school for up to 40 pupils with a range of special educational needs, including social, emotional and mental health needs.
The school would have been based at 3A Union Bank Yard, off New Street, where ES currently has a training facility for young people.
It would cater for children between 11 and 16, with pupils to be referred by Kirklees Council. Fees would be set at £12,000 per year, according to Ofsted. But Ofsted inspector Marian Thomas said the school would be unlikely to meet all independent school standards.
In a report published this week, the inspector suggested the building was not suitable.
“The current building does not have outdoor play space, particularly for younger pupils.
“Also, the entrance to the school is through a busy shopping area and the proposed pupils are vulnerable and may display difficult behaviour. Older pupils are likely to have more maturity and are less likely to run from staff should they become upset on the walk into school.”
The proposed school was to be housed in a recently refurbished grade II-listed building which is also occupied by a charity, The Basement Recovery Project, which also owns the building.
The space outside is currently a courtyard car park and there would be no outside space for pupils to play safety, the Ofsted report noted.
“The proprietor is aware of this, but at the time of inspection, had not been able to secure safe outdoor space for pupils.”
Claire Cook, chief executive of Employability Solutions, said she was now searching for suitable premises in the Huddersfield area.
She said her staff were currently chasing landlords to find another location and the town centre hadn’t been ruled out because it had several advantages.
Ms Cook told the Examiner: “We are a small community-led social enterprise; we believe in giving young people alternative education. Our motto is ‘different to, not less than’.
“We knew this (school) was a long shot to be approved in Huddersfield ... there is a really big increase in Kirklees of children with additional needs.”
She added: “Having a town centre location is an advantage. We are now continuing our search and are open to suggestions. We are not ruling anything out.”