Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council is excited to announce the development of a new Specialist Free School for children with Autism, Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs. This is an exciting opportunity to create a centre of excellence, in a carefully designed new build, in the heart of Halifax.
About the School
The new school will be located at Threeways, Nursery Lane, Halifax, HX3 5SW in Ovenden Ward. It will be a 200-place, all-through specialist school for children aged 4–16 with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), primarily for those with Autism (ASD), Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
This initiative is a central ambition of the Calderdale SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy and is a key element in Calderdale’s commitment to inclusive education and reducing inequalities, ensuring children with SEND can access high-quality, state-funded education close to home.
Why Calderdale?
- Our Vision 34 – sets out our shared, long-term ambition to work towards over the next 10 years to make Calderdale a better place for everyone.
- A beautiful part of West Yorkshire, offering a rich cultural past and present
- A borough of diverse communities, vibrant towns, and strong civic leadership.
- A growing population of children and young people with SEND, with increasing demand for specialist provision.
- A strategic location with excellent transport links, neighbouring primary schools, and community hubs.
- Strong local investment in inclusive education, including SEND hubs, satellite classrooms, and alternative provision.
- Highly effective partnership working across school clusters
Vision for the School
The new school will be a centre of excellence, offering:
- Trauma-informed, therapeutic approaches.
- Adaptive, academic and vocational curriculum pathways.
- Outreach support to mainstream schools.
- Inclusive enrichment and community engagement.
Proposal Requirements
We are seeking MATs with:
- A strong track record in delivering high-quality SEND provision.
- A commitment to inclusive values and community partnership.
- Capacity to deliver a robust education and therapeutic offer aligned with Calderdale’s SEND & AP Strategy 2025–30.
- A commitment to work with the Primary and Secondary Headteacher Associations and in partnership with the Local Authority and Health Services
- A commitment to providing outreach support and training for mainstream schools in conjunction with the Calderdale Specialist Provision Cluster
How to Apply
Interested MATs should review Calderdale Council's Free Schools Application to the DFE, which provides a wealth of detail about the proposed Free School.
Then complete the Department for Education's Application form and email it to Jemima.Flintoff@calderdale.gov.uk.
For further information or to discuss your proposal, please contact Jemima Flintoff directly.
Key Dates
- Application Launch: 24 November 2025
- Submission Deadline: 20 February 2026
- Targeted School Opening: September 2028
Additional Information
- The local authority will fund and commission the building in line with DFE requirements
- This process follows the local authority-led free school presumption route under Section 6A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
- The final decision will be made by the Regional Director for Yorkshire and Humber, on behalf of the Secretary of State.