Council reveals plans to relocate city special school to newly purchased Washington site
The council's acquisition of the site wouldn't have been possible without the support of Sunderland College
Sunderland City Council has purchased a former college campus as party of proposed plans to create a new school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Council has paid £2.65m to purchase Sunderland College's former Washington campus with the proposed plan of relocating Barbara Priestman Academy to the site.
The current school, which is located at Meadowside in Sunderland, caters for SEND children aged 11 to 19, supporting youngsters with autism and complex learning needs.
The Council said the school has “outgrown its current site” and the proposed facility would allow children of secondary school age to continue their sixth form education on the same site, as the academy’s provision is currently spilt between two sites.
The facility would also provide wider specialist SEND provision for the increasing number children being diagnosed with SEND.
The council owned land to the south of the Washington campus can also be incorporated to provide space for new playing fields.
Graeme Musson, headteacher at Barbara Priestman Academy, said: “We’re pleased to be working closely with the council and Together for Children to explore this exciting opportunity.
"We believe every young person deserves an environment where they can thrive and realise their full potential. The proposed move would give us the opportunity to develop modern, spacious facilities that better support the individual strengths, needs and aspirations of our young people, helping them grow in confidence, develop independence and prepare for the future.
"We’re committed to working closely with families, colleagues and partners to ensure their voices help shape our proposals."
The council's cabinet has already agreed to fund improvements to the site, with up to £5m of Department for Education grant funding to support refurbishment and suitability works.
Detailed design work for the campus, which was originally built to house 800 students, is underway, with procurement anticipated by the end of 2026, works could begin in early 2027 and sufficient accommodation potentially ready for occupation in the 2027/2028 academic year.
Councillor Carol Giles, cabinet member for children’s services, education and social mobility, said: "This is an important investment in education in Sunderland and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring children and young people with SEND have access to the high-quality support and learning environments they deserve.
"Securing the former Washington Campus gives us a unique opportunity to meet growing demand for specialist places and create more space for children and young people with SEND needs to learn, develop and thrive.
"The college has been instrumental in helping us secure the site at a fraction of the cost of building new, while safeguarding its long-term educational use in Sunderland. If proposals are approved, our partnership with Barbara Priestman will also provide much-needed additional capacity.”
The council's acquisition of the site wouldn't have been possible without the support of Sunderland College.
Emma Cottle, Vice Principal at Sunderland College, said the college remains “fully committed to serving learners from Washington” and will continue to provide educational opportunities via its other campuses.
She added: “The transfer ensures the site remains an educational asset for the city and reflects our shared ambition to improve outcomes for children in Sunderland.”
Barbara Priestman Academy is an 8.5 mile drive from the proposed new Washington site. Any move would be subject to statutory consultation and approval from the Department for Education.