Wandsworth Council’s original plans to close the Kent school in the summer were paused in a bid to save it
A South London council is moving ahead with plans to close a residential school for autistic children, after a bid to save it failed. Wandsworth Council paused the formal process required to shut Bradstow School, in Kent, which was originally proposed for the end of the 2024/25 academic year, to give governors time to try to secure its future.
The council supported the school with an application to the Department for Education (DfE) to turn it into an academy, which would have allowed it to remain open. However, the DfE could not approve the application and the council has proceeded with formally consulting on its closure by December.
The plans came under scrutiny in a written question submitted ahead of a council meeting on Wednesday (October 22). Conservative councillor Steffi Sutters accused the Labour administration of having a “long-standing intention” to close the school, as she asked Council Leader Simon Hogg if he could confirm whether it would shut for good.
In a written response, Councillor Hogg said formally consulting on closing the school had nothing to do with “any predetermined plan, but our commitment to effectively manage Wandsworth resources and protect the long-term interests of Wandsworth children and the wider education system” due to the school’s major financial challenges.
He said the decision had come as a “last resort”, after the council paused the statutory process to shut the school for six months to give governors time to turn it into an academy and secure its future. The formal consultation was completed in September.
Councillor Hogg added: “With the academisation application being unsuccessful, Wandsworth had to take the difficult decision to reinstate the statutory process and formally consult on closure. A decision which has been driven by significant financial challenges – most notably, the refusal of some local authorities, including Kent County Council, to pay fees for their placements at the school and the support their children have and continue to receive.”
The council inherited the school in 1990, after the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) was abolished. While many local authorities have used the school over the years, most of the students have typically been from Kent. It provides accommodation during term time for autistic children with complex needs aged between five and 19 years old.
A previous council report said Wandsworth had been working with Kent County Council to explore transferring the provision since November 2021, but Kent decided not to proceed with this option last October. The council said it was left with no other choice than to propose closure due to the school’s financial challenges, with other councils unwilling to pay the fees needed to ensure it remained viable.
Councillor Hogg said the school holds debt of £5.3million with other councils, in his written response to Councillor Sutters’ question.
He continued: “Our ambition is to give children the best possible care and have committed to supporting children with special education locally, keeping them educated and cared for as close to their family, friends and community wherever possible.
“The council has invested £41m in expanding SEND provision in Wandsworth creating over 271 places since 2021, of which £34m is on a purpose-built expansion of Paddock Secondary and Sixth Form School. We are also building a new state-of-the-art school with a SEND base in Nine Elms. Bradstow School in Kent is currently providing education to 12 children, the majority of whom are from Kent. There is one Wandsworth child attending the school.”
The council’s cabinet will decide on whether to proceed with plans to shut the school in November.
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