Feb 5, 2021, Peterborough Telegraph: Peterborough special school entry criteria set to change https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/education/peterborough-special-school-entry-criteria-set-change-3125033
Eastern England
Under plans which will shortly be approved by the city council, Marshfields School in Eastern Close, Dogsthorpe, will be re-designated from a school for pupils with ‘moderate learning difficulties’ to one for pupils with ‘learning difficulties’.
The council said that the over the past five years the cohort of students at Marshfields has “changed significantly” and that “the admissions guidance was not always applied consistently”.
It added that “where there have previously been more able students in each cohort, starting points are now lower”. …
The council explained: “Many children with moderate learning difficulties are able to access their education in mainstream provision.
“Making this change will ensure that Marshfields is only offering places to those who need a special school place to access their education successfully.”
Marshfields is a community school with 175 places for pupils aged nine to 19, all of whom have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
The school was judged Good by Ofsted when inspected in October 2016.
The number of pupils with an EHCP in Peterborough has risen from 1,174 in 2015/16 to 1,287 to 2019/20 which has placed a pressure on the city’s education department….
The change in designation is set to come into effect from September.
