An award-winning hotel on the outskirts of Bristol is set to become a new school for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The Old Church Farm, in Rudgeway, located between Alveston and Almondsbury, is set to become a SEND school for primary school pupils which will also make use of the existing conference centre on site. The hotel, which won the South West Hidden Gem award in 2019, is within a Grade II-listed building with roots to the late 16th century and until 2017 was owned by Rolls Royce.
The hotel and conference centre is recognised as a ‘AA 5 Star’ luxury accommodation used for conferences and events. The applicant, Witherslack Group, provides specialist education and help for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, communication difficulties (including speech, language and communication needs and autism), ADHD and additional complex learning needs. It provides education and care to over 1,800 young people within 38 children’s homes and 28 schools.
READ MORE: Bid to save and restore iconic yet crumbling pier READ MORE: Met Office issues warning ahead of hurricane aftermath The proposed plans for the site would see the hotel and conference centre provide 50 pupils with specialist education near the Castlefell School, an existing SEND school in Rudgeway which provides education for 50 pupils. The new school would host pupils between the ages of five and 11 whilst Castlefell School would solely cater for secondary educatio.