Construction is set to begin this autumn on a new school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in North Yorkshire.
South View Academy in Osgodby will offer all-through (3-19) specialist provision for 100 children and will be run by the Wellspring Academy Trust which already operates a number of schools in North Yorkshire. The school is set to offer a holistic and socially inclusive approach to education for children/ young people with SEND.
Executive Principal Shona Crichton said, “It is extremely exciting to have reached the point of awarding a construction contract. South View Academy will expand the opportunities and horizons for young people with SEND in the area through additional places, specialised support and exceptional facilities. The project will result in a purpose-built setting that will meet the needs of young people in their local community.”
The significant investment in the new school from the Department for Education is to be built by the construction firm Bowmer + Kirkland and in collaboration with North Yorkshire Council. The academy will offer suitable, local provision meaning children and young people will not need to travel beyond their community to access the support they require.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “Geographically we’re the largest rural county in the country and as a council we are dedicated to working with parents, school leaders and all partners to meet the special educational needs of children and young people as close to their homes as possible. It is extremely important to us that every child in North Yorkshire, no matter their background, gets the best possible education in the best possible setting and we’re delighted that the South View Academy build project is progressing.”
Local MP Keir Mather, a long-term advocate for the project, commented, “From my very first day as Selby’s MP, I have worked tirelessly to champion the needs of SEND families in our area. Their stories and their struggles have made it abundantly clear to me just how urgently this new school is needed. When I was elected in July 2023, and again in July 2024, I made a promise to deliver this much-need school for local families. The award of a construction contract marks a major step in fulfilling that commitment. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who helped bring us to this point, especially Wellspring Academy Trust and the regional team at the Department for Education. I have been pleased to work closely with them both on this and I know that without their hard work this wouldn’t have been possible. While this school alone won’t solve every challenge with local provision, I know it will make a real and lasting difference for so many children and their families.“
South View Academy is set to be the seventh new school developed by the Wellspring Trust as a partner with the Department for Education. Trust Chief Executive Mark Wilson said, “With a number of new schools in progress and many more schools interested in our work, we are clear that inclusive education creates stronger communities and improves life chances. South View Academy will become an important contributor to this mission, providing an engaging and ambitious education locally for children to reach their fullest potential. Wellspring’s aim is to make a difference in every community in which we have the privilege to serve.”
