(UK) Harrow: School expands SPED space to add 30 students, 10 staff
- The end of childhood
- Apr 19
- 2 min read
April 17, 2025, My London: North London special needs school to get new classrooms for 30 kids and 10 staff as extension approved
N. London
Demand for SEN spaces in Harrow has soared over the past few years
Plans to expand a North London primary school have been given the green light allowing it to accommodate 30 more pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and ten new members of staff. The demand for spaces is growing and without new provision the council would be forced to send students outside the borough.
Alexandra School in South Harrow, which provides education to 80 pupils with learning difficulties, received nearly £1million [$1.3M] in funding from the council last year so it could increase the number of available spaces.
The 30 extra spaces will be created at a cost of £32,000 [$42,000] per pupil, nearly half as much as what it would cost if they had to be placed outside of Harrow. . . .
It is expected that, after being given the green light during the latest meeting of Harrow Council's Panning Committee (April 16), the expansion will be ready for pupils to enrol in September of this year. Committee Chair and Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Marilyn Ashton, said: "It is always good to see increased capacity and facilities at schools. [...] It is to be commended."
The demand for SEN places in Harrow has soared over the past few years, resulting in the council struggling to fulfil its legal duty to provide sufficient spaces.
A report published last year by the council's Director of Children's Services suggested that not providing extra spaces would not only impact children who need special education but also increase the demand on mainstream schools.
Depending on the complexity of their needs, the report claims that the average cost of placing a SEN pupil outside of the borough is around £70,000 [$93,000] to £80,000 [$16,000]. It is estimated that increasing the number of places in the borough could save up to £1.3m [$1.7M] a year, with a further £210,000 [$279K] saved from the SEN Transport budget.
The number of SEN places has increased by 84 since 2019, according to the council, with additional provision created at Pinner Wood, Stanburn, and Grange primary schools, as well as Belmont and Kingsley High School.
However, demand at Alexandram is greater than the number of spaces currently available, with parental preference for the well performing school rising.
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