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Consultation to Increase Pupil Numbers

Prosper Learning Trust and Harry Watts Academy are consulting on the need to provide up to 30 additional planned places at the school.

Background and rationale for Harry Watts Academy

The Trustees of Prosper Learning Trust and the Local Advisory Committee of Harry Watts Academy are consulting on the creation of additional places for Harry Watts Academy to meet Sunderland’s longer term need for pupils with autism from September 2025. Following discussions with the Local Authority regarding this need for additional autism places across the City, the recommendation is to achieve this through use and alteration of existing space at both sites.

Prosper Learning Trust is committed to working with Sunderland City Council to ensure there are sufficient special school places for pupils whose needs mean they require more targeted or intensive support or tailored educational provision. This consultation is focused on the immediate and future need for places in a specialist provision for children and young people with autism.

Prosper Learning Trust and its member schools are highly regarded for delivering high quality teaching and learning for pupils with autism. At Harry Watts Academy, our leadership and staff team are well experienced to deliver the same high-quality education from day one. The intention is to continue to build on this good reputation and strong leadership and provide this expertise to a growing number of pupils across Sunderland by creating additional specialist places for children with complex and profound needs associated with autism.

Background and rationale for the increased number of pupils accessing the school

To accommodate increased pupil numbers at the school, the Trust and Sunderland City Council are proposing to carry out an alteration project at the Ramillies Road site. The art room would be converted to create a class-base and a small group room. This creation of an additional class-base and use of existing capacity will allow the school to provide:

1. More ASD places for the city and neighbouring areas

2. A cost effective solution meaning more money can be retained for teaching and learning

ASD growth in Sunderland

Published data on long-term historical trends shows there has been a continuous increase in the proportion of the pupil population with ASD in Sunderland schools since 2007. More recently (from 2017) the number and proportion of pupils with autism in Sunderland’s primary schools has increased sharply compared with previous years.

The number of children in Sunderland schools who have ASD identified as their primary need has increased substantially over recent years. The number who require specialist provision to meet their needs has also increased significantly and is expected to continue to do so.

We believe that both the increase in the diagnosis and incidence of autism means that current accommodation at Harry Watts Academy will be insufficient to meet predicted future needs. Additional places will be needed for September 2025, particularly for primary aged pupils.

Demand for ASD places has gone up despite a falling birth-rate so as more children come into the city the prevalence may increase further. Harry Watts Academy is also seen as a solution for neighbouring local authorities particularly South Tyneside and Durham.

ASD places in specialist provision required for September 2025/26

In total, there is a need for 190 places in Harry Watts Academy from September 2025/26 (30 more than the current planned place number and 15 more than the current pupil admission number).

Consultation Process

This consultation will be shared with current and potential stakeholders. The consultation will run from Monday 25th November 2024 to Monday 6th January 2025. If you wish to provide any feedback or have any queries in relation to this consultation, please complete the form below.

Online Consultation Feedback Form

Alternatively, please send a email to the email stated below and note “Harry Watts Academy Expansion Consultation” in the subject line. You can also post the below form to: Harry Watts Academy, Ramillies Road, Redhouse, Sunderland, SR5 5JA.

admin@prosperlearningtrust.co.uk

Consultation to Increase Pupil Numbers for Harry Watts Academy - Word - Full Letter

Consultation to Increase Pupil Numbers for Harry Watts Academy - PDF - Full Letter

Meetings to discuss the consultation and proposal are noted below: