Kingston Council agrees plans to lease land for two new schools in the borough

The Corporate and Resources Committee (1 November) agreed to lease the land on the Kingsmeadow site for 125 years on a peppercorn rent basis to create a six-form entry school for 11-16 year olds, subject to planning permission. The voluntary-aided Church of England school is set to open in September 2025, and will include a 20-place specialist resource provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Councillor Diane White, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services said: 

“Parents and carers across our borough are keen to know that there will be high quality secondary places for their children. This new school will help meet that need, ensuring excellent, state-funded secondary provision for our children and young people.

“The school will also provide much-needed secondary places for 20 children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans including those with autism and mild to moderate learning difficulties.

“It will add to the diversity of local secondary schools and provide a natural destination for some children attending the 10 Church of England primary schools within the borough.” 

The Council’s Corporate and Resources Committee also approved proposals to lease part of the Moor Lane site in Chessington for a new special school specifically for children and young people with autism, again subject to planning permission. The special free school, to be run by the education provider  Ambitious about Autism, is planned to open in September 2023, offering 90 places for 4–19 year olds.

Councillor Diane White said:

“We have considerably expanded the Local Offer for children and young people with SEND in recent years, but this will be a hugely important addition. There is a real and obvious need for a school specifically for children and young people with autism, who make up 41% of the borough’s almost 1,500 children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans.

“I look forward to working closely with Ambitious about Autism to make this another outstanding local school.”

The wider community will also benefit from being able to access facilities at the two schools outside school hours.