Concerns have been raised about the expected funding for new special free schools in Gamlingay and March.
Concerns have been shared that the government funding for two planned new special free schools is in doubt. Politicians in Cambridgeshire have raised concerns that the government’s recently announced changes to its programme for funding and building new special schools could mean the planned schools in Gamlingay and March may not get funding.
In 2023 Cambridgeshire County Council entered into a ‘safety valve agreement’ with the Department for Education (DfE), which included the commitment to build the new special free schools.
It was proposed that the school in Gamlingay would be called Greensands Academy and would have space for up to 60 pupils. The school in March was proposed to be called Lime Academy March and would have space for up to 210 pupils.
Earlier this month (December 11) the DfE announced plans to focus on creating more specialist places for children in mainstream schools. It said at least £3billion would be invested to create tens-of-thousands of new places. The government claimed this move would mean children “won’t have to travel miles from home to have their needs met”.
However, concerns have now been raised that this change of approach could leave funding for the planned special schools in Cambridgeshire in doubt. Councillor Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “The continued doubt over funding for a special school in Gamlingay has left parents feeling further frustration.
“The community was promised this special school, and many parents were relying on it to meet the needs of their children closer to home. We know there is already a severe shortage of special school places in Cambridgeshire and further delay is profoundly disappointing.”
Councillor James Stuart, who represents Gamlingay at the county council, said the “doubt” over the funding for the school was “yet another example of the system letting families down”.
Pippa Heylings, MP for South Cambridgeshire, said she had met with the minister to “push for a decision on these desperately needed schools”. She said: “I have heard from so many people across South Cambridgeshire affected by the crisis in SEND provision.
“The government’s inexplicable delays around the proposed new special schools in Cambridgeshire, in Gamlingay and March, have impacted students, families and teachers. I have met with the minister to push for a decision on these desperately needed schools.
“It seems as if the government has recognised the need for further provision and I will be following up with the county council to see if what the government is proposing is sufficient to meet demand and to ensure the right specialist support is provided.”
Councillor Edna Murphy, chair of the children and young people committee at the county council said she shared the concerns that had been raised and said this is “an extremely worrying time for families”.
She said: “The significant increase in demand for Education, Health and Care Plans has created pressure on specialist placements creating uncertainty for parents and carers and driving up unsustainable financial pressure. The delay in this announcement has contributed to this pressure.
“We are committed to delivering good quality and financially sustainable education placements for all children, including those with SEND, in education settings closer to home. We need to consider the Department for Education’s options very carefully to ensure we get the best results for children and families.”
Schools ‘under consideration for alternative funding’
A spreadsheet shared by the DfE shows the proposed Gamlingay and March schools listed as being “under consideration for alternative funding”. The department also highlighted comments made by the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Philipson, that some mainstream free school projects would not go ahead, but that others may be kept “where the need is clear”.
She said: “Pupil numbers are falling, while young people with SEND rises sharply, with 400,000 more pupils with SEND than in 2020. The reasons for doing this are clear. Since 2010, over £325million has been spent on free schools that subsequently closed, some after opening with only a handful of pupils.
“That money could and should have been better invested in schools that were crumbling or more mainstream specialist SEND places. So instead of adding free schools where places already exist, we are delivering tens-of-thousands of new places to better support pupils with SEND in a school that is close to home.
“We will keep some free school projects, where the need is clear, and protect unique offers where children otherwise cannot access opportunities, such as the new maths schools and Eton-Star 16-19 accelerator schools. But we will not waste money where it isn’t needed.”
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