Green Fold Special School: Proposal to increase pupil numbers

Have your say on the proposal to increase pupil place capacity at Green Fold Special School, (Highfield Road, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0NS), and the continued operation of the school’s satellite provision at the former Little Lever children’s centre, (Herbert St, Little Lever, Bolton, BL3 1LU).

Why is Bolton Council considering increasing pupil numbers at Green Fold School?

Green Fold is a popular primary special school that attracts much demand from parents of 4–11-year-olds who require a place at the school for their child.

Green Fold caters for a range of pupils including those with severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Green Fold special school currently operates across four sites. The main Green Fold school currently operates across the Upper and Lower Orchards sites as part of ‘The Orchards Federation’ together with Cherry Tree Primary School and The Orchards Nursery School. Additionally, Green Fold also operate two satellite provisions for Reception/year 1 pupils in the former Little Lever Children’s Centre and a temporary provision at Alexandra nursery until the main facilities at the Upper and Lower Orchards have been physically enlarged.

To meet increased demand, it is proposed to enlarge and raise the capacity of the school from 130 to 185 pupil places. This includes the continued use of the provision at the former Little Lever children’s centre for up to 24 SEND pupils.

Any physical extension to the school will require planning permission which will be the subject of a separate consultation. The purpose of this current consultation is simply to seek your comments with regard to the proposed increase in the number of pupils at Green Fold special school, and is not in respect of any possible future building works.

Why is the Local Authority consulting with you?

The increase in capacity at the school from 130 to 185 pupil places is considered a significant change for the purposes of the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, which advises of the need to consult prior to undertaking formal statutory proposals to make such changes at a school.

When would the increase occur?

Because of the demand for special school places, Green Fold school has already begun to admit higher pupil numbers, however, to permanently increase the capacity of the school to 185 places the Local Authority is required to undertake a formal statutory process with an expectation that the school will be physically expanded by 2025.

If you would like to submit any comments regarding this consultation, you should do so in writing to the Consultation and Research Team at consultation@bolton.gov.uk  with the subject line as ‘Statutory School Consultation – Green Fold’ or alternatively you can write in to:

Freepost RTTT-YTEL-YSXS, Consultation & Research Team, 2nd Floor, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Bolton, BL1 1RU

What happens next?
All comments received will be reported to the Executive Member for Children’s Services for consideration before deciding to progress with the proposal.