The school will provide places for up to 90 pupils when it opens
A new specialist school is finally set to open in South West London next year, after multiple delays. Plans to build London River Academy as part of the redevelopment of Barnes Hospital were approved in 2023, but Richmond Council has now confirmed its expected opening has been pushed to next September.
The school will be run by The Beckmead Trust for up to 90 pupils aged seven to 19 with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), to meet urgent need for such provision in Richmond.
While it was originally hoped the specialist school would open by 2024, then 2025, the project, which is being led by the Department for Education (DfE), has faced a series of delays.
As a result, Richmond Council set up a temporary centre at Nelson Primary School, in Whitton, last September to support up to 45 secondary school pupils with SEMH while they wait for London River Academy to open.
A statement on the Beckmead Trust’s website says: “The London River Academy is a purpose-built special school in Richmond offering a nurturing, inclusive environment for pupils with SEMH and other associated needs.”
It adds: “We have high expectations for every young person to leave as a confident young adult who is well-prepared for the future. Ensure that every pupil receives exceptional provision, accessing life-enhancing education and meaningful destinations.”
It comes as the number of state-funded specialist school places in Richmond grew from 159 in 2012 to 393 this year at three centres – Capella House, Clarendon School and Strathmore School – as the council expanded provision so more children could stay close to home.
A new report by council officers said demand for these three schools is extremely high, and the authority is working with contractor Achieving for Children (AfC) to provide more places.
In September, the council opened a new centre in Petersham for Clarendon with 78 specialist places and a new campus in Hampton for Strathmore with 24 specialist places.
The borough also has 14 specialist resource bases in its mainstream state schools for children with more complex needs, on top of the specialist schools.
The report said the council plans to audit existing specialist provision in its state schools to make sure these spaces are fit for purpose, and choose two secondary schools to receive new specialist resource bases.
Richmond’s education committee will discuss plans for school places in the borough tonight (November 12).
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