October 10, 2019 4.27 pm This story is over 53 months old

Lincoln special school to be expanded

More than 30 pupils will be added to the roster
School closures and lockdown meant that children

A Lincoln school for pupils with special educational needs will be expanded in order to deal with increasing school numbers.

The Athena School will see existing buildings on an adjacent site remodelled and refurbished in order to increase the number of pupils at the school from 72 to 104.

The school is currently operating with 75 pupils – above its capacity.

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee next Friday  will be asked to support and comment on the plans.

Officers say the changes will create new opportunities to improve the school overall, reduce the need for temporary classrooms and provide flexibility in the way the curriculum is delivered.

They say that rejecting the plans will result in “insufficient school places for children with special educational needs and increased pressure on Athena School.

They add that children could be offered places outside their local communities and having to travel a considerable distance – increasing costs and concerns.

It says: “The LA believes this proposal to be in the best interests of local children and local parents as well as educational provision in the area and it supports the Council’s aim of ensuring that as many children as possible can reach their full potential.

“It also enables the LA to fulfil its statutory duty of ensuring that there are sufficient places to accommodate all pupils of statutory school age in Lincolnshire.”

Athena School was rated overall by Ofsted as a ‘Good’ school at its last inspection in December 2018 and is popular with parents.

Lincolnshire County Council approved a £50 million investment in Lincolnshire’s special schools in June.

The plans include the build of a new special school and the expansion of several others with the aim of creating 500 special school places across the county.

Work is planned to begin later this year, with the aim to be completed for April 2020.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from coverage every week, as well as insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.