The London Borough of Bexley’s Leader and Cabinet Member for Education and Corporate Services were proud to join children, parents and staff for the official opening of the Shenstone School expansion, which formally opened in September, creating an all-through school for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged two to 19.

The project saw nearly £16 million invested to deliver the new permanent secondary provision site, with £9.5 million contributed as part of the borough’s Safety Valve Programme and the remainder from Department for Education SEND Grants secured by the London Borough of Bexley.

This new building complements the Council’s two existing SEND Free Schools, Cleeve Meadow and Cornerstone, along with 140 new specialist Resource Provision places.

Leader of the Council, Cllr David Leaf and Cabinet Member for Education and Corporate Services, Cllr Caroline Newton, were on hand to mark the school opening celebrations this weekend (29 November).

The Leader said:

The opening of this new permanent site marks an exciting new chapter for both Shenstone School and the London Borough of Bexley. It demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality education and ensuring every student is seen, supported and primed for success. The Local Authority has shown, through forward-thinking and planning, that we are up to the challenge of being inclusive and innovative in our work with parents and partners.

I would like to thank our pupils, their families, Council staff as well as TKAT and Shenstone school staff for their commitment, adaptability and passion to want the best for children in our Borough in this amazing local school."

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Caroline Newton said:

The expansion is an excellent example of the quality of specialist provision that we provide for our SEND pupils in Bexley. 

It provides an exceptional environment and state-of the-art facilities for its pupils to grow and learn and will be an invaluable asset to the Borough for years to come.

I would again like to thank parents and carers for their patience while the new school was developed. I would also like to thank school staff and TKAT for working so closely with the Borough to make Bexley even better."

The London Borough of Bexley, Shenstone School, TKAT and Department for Education have worked tirelessly to meet the rising demand for specialist places which prompted this expansion to an ‘all through’ school.

They were joined by Deputy Mayor Cllr Janice Ward-Wilson as they cut the ribbon to the new secondary site situated in Halt Robin Road, adjacent to Cornerstone School.