New sixth form centre at Beaumonth Hill Academy in Darlington

Plans for the new facility at Beaumont Hill Academy are expected to be formally submitted soon following a public consultation. 

Earlier this year, Darlington Borough Council cabinet members agreed to invest £360,000 of High Needs Capital Funding to refurbish the former Haughton Children’s Centre as a sixth form centre for Beaumont Hill. 

The new site will free up 30 additional “much-needed” secondary SEND places, following the refurbishment of the vacant space, in the main school.  Currently, the school has 269 pre-16 places. 

Council officials say there are “significant pressures” on the school’s capacity and relocating to the new site would help respond to the growing demand for places. 

Several benefits of the scheme have also been outlined, and include: 

• Create capacity within Beaumont Hill Academy.
• Ensure Darlington continues to respond to the changing needs and requirements of Darlington young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
• Increase the opportunity for Darlington young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to continue their educational journey in Darlington.
• Support the further diversification of the education offer for Darlington young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

“The sixth form centre will provide learners with a suite of light, bright learning environments, including a mix of open teaching spaces, classrooms and areas to practice cooking and life skills alongside an outdoor horticultural area,” the council said. 

Recommended reading: 

• Revealed: How new Darlington housing could create 'gateway' and transform town
• Timeline for regeneration and hundreds of proposed Darlington homes revealed
• DEAL AGREED: Closing down signs taken down from Darlington Binns building

Subscribe to The Northern Echo now.

A statement added: “There may be other young people who have attended different special schools, and the new Beaumont Hill Academy sixth form centre presents an opportunity for their educational journey to progress in their home locality.”

A public consultation on the potential changes closed on Monday. Further information will be revealed in due course. 

Darlington Council said: “All consultation responses will be collated, and due planning processes concluded.  Following this, a Significant Change application is submitted by EVAT to the Department for Education (DfE). This is required by the DFE through their expansion onto a satellite site criteria.  DfE will then make a determination if the requested changes can take place.”