Empty academy site to be used for school expansion

A school that never opened due to lack of demand will be redeveloped into a special school.

The Waterside Primary Academy was initially due to open in the new Trent Basin estate in Nottingham in September, but the Department for Education (DfE) pulled funding for the centre in January.

Nottingham City Council said after discussions with the DfE about the future of the site, a plan to repurpose the building for the expansion of the existing Rosehill special school was approved.

The expanded special educational needs and disability (SEND) school, run by the council, could be open by September 2026, the authority said.

Neghat Khan, leader of the city council, said the scrapping of the new primary school "presented a really interesting opportunity for the council".

A £10m plan to expand Rosehill was already under way and expected to be completed in 2027 but the council said it would now "reroute" £2m of that funding to redevelop the Waterside building and subsequently save £8m.

The expansion will create 60 additional school places for children aged four to 19 with special educational needs and disabilities, an education health and care plan (EHCP) and a diagnosis of autism, the authority said.

Khan said the "huge demand" for SEND places was increasing.

She added: "Our priority is to ensure that all children and young people have access to the education and support they need to thrive.

"And while the original plans for Waterside Primary School have evolved, this initiative demonstrates our commitment to finding innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our residents, particularly those requiring specialised support.

"We have been able to find a solution with minimal cost implications, that can be delivered relatively quickly and will make a significant difference in the lives of many families."

Parents and carers of Rosehill School pupils were told about the development in a letter earlier in March.

Rosehill School's head teacher Cheryl Steele said: "This is fabulous news for Nottingham's children and families.

"It clearly demonstrates that we are a city focused on enabling every child and young person to achieve the best possible outcomes in learning, social and emotional wellbeing to fulfil their potential and participate fully in society."

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