Staffordshire County Council is moving forward with plans to build a brand new all-age special school in Rugeley, with £28.6 million in government funding backing the project. The school will be built on the former Hagley Park Academy site and is expected to open in September 2029, serving around 180 pupils from reception through secondary school.
The Rugeley school will specialise in supporting children with autism and social, emotional and mental health problems. This specialist provision means local families in Stafford and surrounding areas will no longer need to travel long distances to access the support their children need. The facility will cater for children across all age groups in one location.
Beyond the Rugeley development, the £28.6 million investment will also fund a new primary referral unit in Stafford town itself. This unit will provide places for up to 16 younger children who require additional support outside mainstream education settings. Councillor Janet Higgins highlighted that the investment allows "more children to learn in their own county, instead of travelling further afield."
Local residents and families affected by these plans have until 17 July to have their say on the proposals for the new Stafford special school provision. This consultation period gives the community an opportunity to feed back on the plans before final decisions are made by the council.