Plans for new school for children with autism approved
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
09/01/2008
Exciting plans to build a new state-of-the-art school for children with autism were given the go-ahead this week (7 January) after Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Cabinet agreed to close Gibbs Green Special School and relocate its provision as a new centre at Langford Primary School in South Fulham.
The decision will see the Queensmill School for autistic children moved from its historic five-storey Victorian building on Clancarty Road, Fulham to a purpose built, modern building on the site of Gibbs Green in West Kensington.
The new centre at Langford Primary School, Gilstead Road, will have specialist facilities for pupils who are having difficulties in mainstream primary schools. The move means that children previously attending Gibbs Green will have their needs met within the inclusive environment of a mainstream school.
The plans form part of H&F Council’s Primary and Special School Strategy and follows a consultation on plans to reshape primary and special needs education in the borough, so that the places on offer better match the needs and aspirations of local parents and their children.
The building that is currently used by the Queensmill School is not ideal for children with autism. The move will mean that there is more space for the pupils and separate rooms for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and music therapy as well as specialist areas of teaching such as food preparation, art, music and science.
Cllr Antony Lillis, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Queensmill School is already regarded as one of the best schools in the country for autistic children but its current building is far from ideal. This move will provide it with vastly improved facilities and will be beneficial to all of its pupils. The council is committed to providing first-class care to those who need it the most and this decision will allow us to provide autistic children with state-of-the-art services for years to come.”
As part of the Primary and Special School Strategy, Cabinet also agreed last night to close Peterborough Primary School on Clancarty Road, Fulham at the end of the summer term in 2008.
Some 50 per cent of the places in community primary schools in south Fulham are unfilled and this represents poor value for money. Peterborough Primary School was identified and proposed for closure because it has fewer pupils (143) than any of the other three local community schools. Its attainment, although much improved in 2007 following intensive Local Authority support, was previously the lowest in the area.
The council aims to retain the Peterborough site for educational use and is in preliminary discussions with the French government to open a bilingual primary school on the Peterborough site it the future. This will be a very exciting development for South Fulham and will offer parents greater diversity and choice in primary education.
Cllr Lillis added: “The closure of any school is to be regretted and is particularly sad for those pupils in the school. I would like to pay tribute to all the staff and governors who have supported the school especially over the past few months. The council will make sure that all pupils and parents affected by the decision to close Peterborough Primary School are given the necessary support in moving to new schools. We realise that this decision may not be immediately popular but it is our duty to make difficult decisions that will benefit the people of Hammersmith & Fulham in the long run. ”
