Bradford Council is poised to invest more than £6M in Bingley Grammar School to build new facilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and increase the overall capacity of the school.
A specialist provision for up to 24 SEND pupils and an additional 150 school places will be created if proposals are approved by the council’s Executive Committee next week.
The popular school is heavily oversubscribed with more parents wanting to send their children there than it has places for. Expanding the school could mean fewer children and young people will travel outside of the Bradford District for their secondary education.
The new SEND provision would also ease pressure on specialist facilities in other areas of the district.
Councillor Imran Khan, Executive Member for Education, Employment and Skills, said: “We want all children in Bradford District to thrive at school and this proposed investment in Bingley Grammar shows our commitment to quality education across the district. Children and their families benefit greatly from having schools which meet their needs close to home.
“The new specialist SEND provision is a great opportunity to provide modern facilities for pupils with special educational needs in a well-established location. Specialist teaching and learning environments make a huge difference to pupils who need additional support.”
At the meeting on Tuesday, 5 October, the Executive will be asked to allow £6.1M of funding to be allocated to the project. That will come from the council’s Basic Needs funding, which is money given to the council each year to help ensure there are enough mainstream school places for children in the area.
The council will carry out consultation on the expansion work to ensure the local community and those potentially affected are considered.
Appeal Following Road Traffic Collision, Great Horton Road, Bradford
Bradford Man Jailed For Child Sexual Offences
Appeal After Burglary
Have your say and help to build stronger communities in Calderdale
City presents Windrush pioneer with prestigious Leeds Award
More Than 10,000 Arrests Made By Team Dedicated To Reducing Violent Crime
Plate expectations as historic registration could be up for sale
Calderdale: Celebrating over 350 years of service at Council
Activists who caused £100,000 worth of damage sentenced
Appeal Following Collision and Death of Man in Otley, Leeds
The Golden Era
Alim OnAir
Legal Show
Remix Saturdays