A new special school in Gamlingay will be run by the multi-academy Meridian Trust, the government has announced.
The Gamlingay school, which will be on the site previously occupied by the former Gamlingay First School, is due to open in September 2025. It will admit 60 pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.
There is a particular demand in the Gamlingay area for provision for girls whose SEMH needs result in challenging behaviour.
At present girls either travel out of county, attend an independent school or are educated at home through 1:1 tuition. A primary feature of the new school in Gamlingay is that it will be co-educational.
Meanwhile, the Lime Trust has been selected to run a special school in March, which is due to open in September 2026 and will cater for 210 children and young people, aged two to 19.
Alongside a general need for extra special school places across the county, there is a particular need for more places in Fenland.
The Meridian Trust, which was established in 2001, already runs a number of schools across the region.
The schools include 14 primary and 14 secondary, along with three Cambridgeshire special schools: the Martin Bacon Academy in Longstanton, the NeneGate School in Peterborough and The Harbour School in Wilburton. The trust also runs North Cambridge Academy and Swavesey Village College.
The announcement comes as new schools providing dedicated support for more than 2,000 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are to open in 16 areas across England.
The schools will provide vital specialist spaces for pupils whose needs cannot be met in mainstream education. A competition for academy trusts to run those schools will be launched in the coming days.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: “Special schools can truly transform children’s lives, enabling pupils with special education needs and disabilities to thrive in environments that meet their needs.
“We’re creating tens of thousands of special school places since 2010 and today’s announcement takes us one step closer to our commitment of a record 60,000 more places for children with additional needs.
“I know how hard it can be for families trying to navigate the SEND system, and the creation of more brilliant special schools is just one part of our plan to make sure every family and every child get the right support, in the right place at the right time.”
The announcement follows an investment of £105million confirmed by the Chancellor at this year’s Spring Budget. The government has already opened 108 schools as part of the special free schools programme since 2010, with a further 93 planned to open in future years.
Special schools ensure pupils with special needs such as autism, emotional and behaviour disorders, severe learning difficulties and more can flourish thanks to specially trained teachers, programmes, and equipment.
Chief secretary to the treasury, Laura Trott, said: “Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential. That’s why opening new special schools in Cambridgeshire will be transformational for local children with additional needs.
“It will ensure they receive a best-in-class education and provide a helping hand to hard working families across East of England.”
The government is committed to reforming the SEND and Alternative Provision system to ensure earlier intervention, consistent high standards and less bureaucracy through its SEND and AP Improvement Plan.
The Improvement Plan committed to strengthening protections, and improving the outcomes, for children in unregistered alternative provision.
