Wandsworth Council officially approves closure of Bradstow School in Broadstairs

By Local Democracy Reporter Charlotte Lillywhite

A London council has now officially approved the decision to shut a residential special needs school in Kent.

Bradstow School in Broadstairs, described as a lifeline for autistic children, will close by December 31 despite last-ditch pleas to save it.

Wandsworth Council’s cabinet agreed the closure after hearing this was the “only option” left due to its financial challenges.

The council had delayed shutting the school to allow governors more time to secure its future by turning it into an academy, but the Department for Education (DfE) rejected these plans and advised the authority to move ahead with closure.

Council officers recommended its closure after completing a public consultation in September, which the cabinet agreed on Monday (November 3).

Polly Benton, Bradstow’s business manager, claimed the school would have been financially viable if it had been allowed to admit new pupils this year, given recent cost reductions.

Speaking on behalf of Bradstow’s principal and governors, she asked the cabinet for more time “to make an informed decision about academisation”.

A total of 12 children still attend the school, including one child from Wandsworth and two from Kent.

“I truly feel for the families from other areas who must be concerned about moving their child…”

Ms Benton said: “Bradstow School has for generations been far more than a school. It has been a lifeline, a place of safety, understanding and hope, for some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community.”

She added: “Over the past two years, decisions on Bradstow’s behalf have too often overlooked the best interests of the children. Many have been placed miles from their families, some now living in children’s homes without education, others receiving only a few hours of teaching each week, and families uprooted simply to stay close to their child.”

But Ana Popovici, executive director for children’s services, said the council had explored every option to keep Bradstow open, and none could ensure the welfare of the children or long-term financial stability of the school.

She said its closure was now “the only option, the responsible course of action”.

Ms Popovici said: “The situation is not a reflection of the quality of care or education provided, nor is it a reflection of the dedication of our staff. It’s symptomatic of the structural and financial realities that make our continued responsibility for the school, simply put, untenable.

“This decision is about doing what is right for Wandsworth children and families, focusing our resources and investment in our specialist provision locally.

“This will enable us to uphold the standards we deserve and keep many more children closer to home and within their communities to benefit from the support they absolutely need and deserve.”

Wandsworth inherited the school in 1990, after the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) was abolished.

While many local authorities have used the school over the years, most of the students have typically been from Kent. It provides accommodation during term time for autistic children with complex needs aged between five and 19 years old.

A report by council officers said Wandsworth had been working with Kent County Council to explore transferring the provision since November 2021, but Kent decided not to proceed with this option last October.

Although KCC has not commented on why talks to take over the Bradstow site were unsuccessful, it is understood there are a number of concerns about the condition of the property and costs of making it ‘fit for purpose’ alongside the concerns raised earlier this year about care provision and social care and police investigations into medication errors at the school.

The school has an overall deficit of almost £1 million and holds further debt with other councils of £5.3 million, according to the report, including £4.6 million with Kent.

The council has started legal proceedings to recover these fees from Kent.

Cabinet member for children at the London authority, Judi Gasser, said: “Hand on heart, I can’t recommend to cabinet that we keep underwriting Bradstow’s losses. My responsibility is to the Wandsworth children.

“I truly feel for the families from other areas who must be concerned about moving their child, and I feel for the staff team. We will do all we can to help you find new jobs, but it is my duty to keep Wandsworth money for Wandsworth children.”

The school has about 100 staff, and Wandsworth says redundancy costs are estimated to be circa £1million.

A spokesperson from Kent County Council (KCC) said: "We are working closely with the London Borough of Wandsworth to review and agree the fees related to Bradstow School.

"We have not refused to pay any fees that are properly due; our focus has been on understanding the details of the charges and ensuring that all payments are accurate and agreed.

"As part of this process, we have identified some elements of the fees that are disputed, such as increases or charges that were not previously agreed upon with KCC.

"We remain committed to resolving these matters constructively, so the right funding is in place to support young people’s education."

An Ofsted rating in June 2023 saw Bradstow scoop an overall 'Outstanding' grade.

However, the school was then rated as 'Requires Improvement' overall and in the leadership category in May 2024 despite maintaining its ‘Outstanding’ score across all other categories.