(UK) Gateshead: Special school becomes "exclusively" autism school to meet local demand
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A Gateshead special school is set to cater exclusively to children with autism in order to meet local demand.
Local authority bosses are expected to approve the transition of Hill Top Specialist Arts College, Felling, to an autism-specific school by 2030. Currently, the school educates children with moderate learning difficulties (MLD) and autism.
Council documents state due to the specialist requirements of MLD and autism, Hill Top has become two schools in one building. MLD and autism require different facilities meaning the school has been unable to install some features to support pupils with complex autism, including a hydrotherapy pool or outdoor facilities.
In addition council documents continue: “The special educational needs category of Moderate Learning Difficulty is not one which requires a specialist placement in special school, this is a national picture for Moderate Learn Difficulties, with the needs of children with Moderate Learning Difficulties being met within the mainstream setting.”
The proposals would see MLD admissions to the school stop this September. MLD pupils currently enrolled will complete their education up to Year 11.
According to the Gateshead Autism Strategy 2025-2030 paper, between 2017 and 2022, the authority saw a 96% increase in cases of autism from statistics gathered from the school census. The paper also states that there are around 1,850 residents aged 5-18 diagnosed with autism. However, this is likely to be an understatement as some will have unrecorded diagnoses or are awaiting assessment.
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