Residents back new plans for Shaftesbury's St Mary's school
The results of the public consultation will be discussed next week (29 April)
Dorset residents are in favour of Dorset Council's plans for the future of the St Mary's school site near Shaftesbury.
1,400 people took part in the local authority's survey and 92% of them were in the support for the site to continue to be used for educational purposes.
Dorset Council is considering a range of options for the site, but its preferred option is a SEND school because of the growing demand.
There are around 3,000 pupils in Dorset with SEND who are supported by an Education, Health and Care Plan, compared to 1,500 in 2015.
Independent provision for these pupils' costs around £60K a year, per place, compared to about £22K for similar provision at one of Dorset's excellent special schools.
SURVEY RESULTS
89% were in favour of using the site as a special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND) school.
The responses will now be considered before a decision on the future of the site is made at Dorset Council's Cabinet meeting on 29th April.
Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Early Help, said:
"Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and shared their views about the future of this important site. All views will be carefully considered before a final decision is made.
"We are very ambitious for this site and also for our children and young people with SEND. St Mary's has wonderful facilities and I believe it could be used to provide excellent educational opportunities closer to home to benefit Dorset children and young people.
"Opportunities to secure sites like this for Dorset are very rare. It would cost a great deal more, and take several years, to build an amazing facility like this."
Funding of £37.5 million was confirmed last week for Dorset Council to use over the next five years.
The local authority is to use the money in the Children's Plan to provide the best education for Dorset children and young people with SEND.