Sutton Council's People Committee has approved statutory notices regarding proposed changes at Sherwood Foundation Special School, aiming to increase its capacity to meet the growing demand for specialist educational places, particularly for children with complex autism needs transitioning from primary to secondary provision.
The decision, made during a meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2026, will see the school's capacity expand to a peak of 289 pupils by 2030, with a long-term capacity set at 264 places. This expansion is intended to bridge the gap before the new Fern Hill Special Free School opens in September 2027.
Sherwood Foundation Special School, which already operates a third campus at the former Carew Manor site, will see its provision grow to meet the sufficiency needs for learners with a highly complex autism profile of need. The new campus at the Carew Manor site is specifically intended to meet the needs of children coming from primary resource-based autism provisions.
The expansion will be phased in over several years. The current capacity of the school is not explicitly stated, but the plan outlines the following increases:
- September 2025: The third campus at Carew Manor site opened, supporting 25 learners.
- September 2026: An additional 24 places will be created.
- September 2027: An additional 12 places, bringing the total to 241 across all campuses.
- September 2028: An additional 12 places, bringing the total to 253.
- September 2029: An additional 12 places, bringing the total to 265.
- September 2030: An additional 12 places, bringing the total to 289.
The rationale behind the difference between the peak capacity of 289 pupils (in September 2030) and the long-term capacity of 264 places (from September 2032) is due to a planned reduction in places after the peak demand is met. Specifically, there is a projected decrease of 13 places in September 2031 and a further 12 places in September 2032. This reduction is described as 'Year 7-13 now have 12 pupils per year group' in the detailed expansion plan.
Meanwhile, Fern Hill Special Free School is scheduled to open in September 2027 at the Rose Hill site, providing 96 places for children with complex autism needs. The planning application for Fern Hill was approved in February 2024, and on-site construction commenced in April 2023, with completion expected in January 2025.
The expansion will increase the capacity at the Carew Manor site, which currently serves as Sherwood Foundation Special School's third campus. The school will undertake a prescribed alteration to increase capacity at this site. The facilities at the Carew Manor campus, such as the outdoor playing field and specialist curriculum spaces, will be available to all children at Sherwood Foundation school, not just those at the Manor campus. The information available does not detail specific impacts on existing students or staff at the Carew Manor site beyond the increase in capacity and the broader availability of facilities.
More information on the People Committee's decisions can be found in the Public reports pack for the meeting on September 24, 2026.
