Plan unveiled for County Durham school for children with disabilities

Council chiefs in County Durham are hoping to build a new school in Villa Real, Consett, for children with the most complex needs, as part of a wider expansion of special educational provision across the county.

The new school could support up to 170 pupils amid increased demand for specialist services.

Villa Real School has been delivering Conductive Education as part of its curriculum for the last two decades, including support for children who have severe, profound, medical and complex learning difficulties.

Durham County Council cabinet member Cathy Hunt said the existing facility is no longer fit for purpose. 

“For too long, some of the most vulnerable children in County Durham have been asked to learn in buildings that are simply not fit for purpose,” said Cllr Hunt, cabinet member for children and young people’s services. 

The Reform member added: “Villa Real School, which supports children with the most severe and complex disabilities and serious health needs, is currently operating from a site that is damp, overcrowded, and physically unsuitable for the level of specialist care and equipment required. 

“It was never designed to meet the needs of today’s pupils — many of whom rely on wheelchairs, medical support, and specialist therapies.”

The funding pledge is subject to final approval by Durham County Council later this year. 

Staff at the school have repeatedly appealed for investment to fund a new building and have received the backing of current and former MPs. 

Last year, the council agreed to issue a ‘County Durham Care Emergency’, which Reform said would help recognise the “critical and escalating crisis” in children’s social care, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. 

Cllr Hunt added: “Children with severe disabilities or serious health conditions deserve to be educated in a safe, modern, and dignified environment. 

“We have made difficult choices to get here. But we have been clear about our priorities: when faced with competing demands, we will put care before vanity, and children before ideology. Others promised. We are delivering.

“This investment is about dignity, safety, and opportunity for some of the most vulnerable young people in our county. It is the right thing to do.”