Brent Council's Cabinet has approved plans to expand Phoenix Arch Special School by 50 places, utilising the Strathcona site from September 2027. The decision comes in response to a growing demand for specialist provision in the borough for children with autistic spectrum condition (ASC).
The expansion will add approximately 50 places to Phoenix Arch Special School, which currently has a roll of 55 pupils. The school is a mixed-gender community special school catering to pupils aged between 4 and 11 years old, all of whom have a diagnosis of autism spectrum condition (ASC). Some children also have learning disabilities (LD). The specific distribution of the additional 50 places across different age groups or specific needs within ASC has not yet been detailed.
Councillor Jake Rubin, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Employment and Climate Action, highlighted the increasing number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in Brent, noting a 10% rise in one year. Children are only admitted to the school if they have an EHCP that names Phoenix Arch. Needs associated with communication and interaction (CI), which includes children with ASC, are predominant, with 58% of the current cohort having CI as their primary area of need.
The expansion is part of Brent's wider SEND capital programme, aiming to address the shortage of specialist placements. Councillor Gwen Grahl, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, welcomed the proposal, emphasising the importance of keeping provision within the community and ensuring good terms and conditions for staff.
This expansion is estimated to cost £1 million for the creation of the satellite site on the Strathcona site. By increasing in-borough capacity, the proposal supports cost avoidance. Once fully operational, the expanded provision is expected to deliver annual cost avoidance of approximately £1.05 million, based on the cost differential between independent and maintained special school placements. However, how these savings will be reinvested within Brent's SEND provision has not been specified.
Concerns raised by the Chair of the South Kenton Preston Park Residents Association regarding traffic, parking, and the suitability of the Strathcona site were acknowledged. The Council stated that further work would be undertaken during the design development phase to mitigate impacts on the local community. Sustainable modes of travel will be encouraged for school staff and children who are not eligible for home to school transport, particularly the use of local tube and bus routes. The site is conveniently located near South Kenton and Preston Park tube stations and local bus routes, which will be incorporated into a sustainable travel plan.
The decision was approved by Cabinet and is eligible for call-in until 6pm on Monday 14 September 2026. Further details on the decision can be found in the Public reports pack for the Cabinet meeting on Monday 7 September 2026.
