The school was proposed by Kirklees Council in Huddersfield, and will provide an education space for 180 children with complex autism
The Almondbury autism specialist school will host students aged 5 to 19 with a post-16 dedicated provision.
The school is being designed by Frank Shaws Associates, and Lichfields are providing consultation.
Almondbury autism specialist school is a modern school for autistic children
The school will replace the original Woodley School and College, with the site moving to Fernside Avenue.
It will be equipped with specialist classrooms, sensory and immersive rooms, indoor and outdoor breakout areas, a forest school, food technology rooms, a post-16 café, and a life skills suite for young adults, all in accordance with best practice guidance from the Autism Education Trust (AET).
Construction of the school is expected next year.
Jonathan Standen, Planning Director in Lichfields’ Leeds office, added: “There’s a growing demand across the country for specialist school places and Kirklees is taking a proactive approach to meeting that need.
“This scheme is a great example of what can be achieved when technical teams, local authorities and planners work together. We’re pleased to have helped bring forward a development that will have a lasting and positive impact on the lives of children and young people in the borough.”
A busy time for school works
In May, the government announced that they would be investing £1.2bn into school and hospital repairs, spreading over 656 schools in the UK.
Of this amount, schools will be receiving £470m to put towards repairs, many of which are desperately needed. As an example, several schools in Stoke-on-Trent are being left in a severe state of disrepair due to PFI contracts draining the school’s funds, which are instead essentially diverted to investors as profit.
Investors are then supposed to be responsible for the maintenance of the school, but due to the nature of PFI contracts, schools cannot keep up with maintenance costs, as one school saw a rise over four years of a whopping £151,000.
Regarding May’s investment, Education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: “The defining image of the school estate under the previous government was children sitting under steel props to stop crumbling concrete falling on their heads. It simply isn’t good enough.
“Parents expect their children to learn in a safe warm environment. It’s what children deserve, and it is what we are delivering.
“This investment is about more than just buildings – it’s about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.”
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