Newcastle Labour’s investment in specialist education is creating 110 additional places for children and young people with autism at Thomas Bewick School in West Denton.
A major expansion of the school is opening this September, significantly increasing the specialist provision available to Newcastle families and helping meet growing demand for places.
Thomas Bewick School provides specialist education for children and young people with autism and serves families from across Newcastle.
The expansion includes a new secondary building providing 110 additional places, substantially increasing the school’s capacity and allowing more children and young people to access specialist education in the city.
Newcastle City Council commissioned work to increase capacity at Thomas Bewick as demand for specialist provision continued to grow.
The expanded facilities include new classrooms alongside specialist spaces designed around the needs of Thomas Bewick pupils.
The investment forms part of Labour’s commitment to ensure children with additional needs have access to high-quality education and appropriate specialist support.
By increasing the number of specialist places available within Newcastle, the council is also helping more families access suitable provision closer to home.
The expansion comes despite continuing pressure on council finances and forms part of Labour’s wider programme of capital investment in Newcastle’s schools and services for children and young people.
Council Leader Cllr Nick Forbes said: “Every child in Newcastle deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential, and that means making sure we invest in the specialist education and support some children need.
“Creating 110 additional places at Thomas Bewick is a significant investment in children and families and will allow the school to support many more young people with autism.
“Labour will continue working with our schools and families to make sure Newcastle has the places, facilities and support our children need.”