New SEND facility gets green light

27 July 2018

Cabinet has voted unanimously for the development of a new 16 plus special education needs and disabilities (SEND) facility to go ahead.

The facility will be based at Bishops House in Kennington and will help equip young people with the learning and skills to make the transition to adulthood as successful as possible.

The council will use some of the £1.6million worth of Department of Education SEND capital funding, secured earlier this year, to carry out the necessary work to ensure  that Bishops House remains accessible to meet the needs of Southwark’s population and continues to be a centre of high quality educational provision that is fit for purpose.

The aim of the college will work with a range of partners in the field  to prepare the students for employment by offering training and work experience placements tailored to individual needs. The focus of these placements will be underpinned by the structured teaching of vocational skills that focus on raising employability. The sixth-form will offer a wide range of accredited qualifications to pupils.  

This increase in post-16 specialist education provision within Southwark will keep some of our most vulnerable young people closer to home and provide better outcomes for students.

Cllr Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Adult Care said: “I am incredibly pleased that cabinet approved this decision. This is really fantastic news for young people with special education needs and disabilities and their families. This project had fantastic support from parents when we consulted with them about our plans and I look forward to welcoming them into this new facility in the not too distant future.

“We recognise that our further education offer needs to be better developed and that young people currently have to travel outside of the borough to access the services they need.  Bishops House is part of our planned expansion of local opportunities for special educational needs and will help the council to improve our post-sixteen offer.

“As a council we want to ensure equity of services and that no one is left behind. Developing this service will help move us in the right direction.”

Page last updated: 27 July 2018