(UK) Kent: Special school in documentary; $926K funding gap
$926K
A Kent special needs school will feature in a new documentary highlighting the financial pressures behind its work.
Five Acre Wood School, which has sites in Maidstone and Snodland, cares for more than 800 students aged four to 19.
Inside the UK's largest SEN School . . .
The largest SEN school in the UK, it says 95% of its annual budget goes towards staffing - something head teacher Peggy Murphy describes as its “best and most precious resource”.
More than 500 specialist staff are employed – with many at risk of redundancy as financial pressures grow.
The school receives the majority of its funding from Kent County Council (KCC), with a 1% uplift towards the school – less than what is awarded to mainstream schools.
In response to the funding concerns, a council spokesperson said it “has not withdrawn or failed to provide any funding that was promised to the school.”
It added: “Funding allocations for 2026-27 have been based on the resources made available from the Department for Education (DfE).
“Despite there being no national increase in core high needs funding this year, Kent’s state-funded special schools have received 1% funding uplift, worth around £1.5 million across the sector.
“This decision reflects Kent’s understanding of the financial pressures facing schools, although it adds further pressure to an already overspent budget.
“We appreciate the uncertainty this can create for staff. We recognise the vital work Five Acre Wood School does in supporting children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities.”
The financial challenges come as the school continues to develop facilities designed to give pupils practical experience and improve their chances of finding employment.
The documentary explores how only 5% of people with a learning disability are employed across the UK. At Five Acre Wood, 40% of former pupils are in employment or training. . . .
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