Chris calls on the government to stop delaying Betchwood Vale Academy
More than 1800 children in Surrey missed more than a third of their education due to their educational needs not being met.
In 2023-24 Surrey County Council spent around £48 million on home to school transport for children under 16 with SEN, around £4 million for children aged 16-18 with SEN, and around £2 million for young people aged 19-25 with SEN. One of the best things we can do for our children with SEND is to provide more specialist free school places.
Betchwood Vale Academy is a SEND school proposed in Dorking, creating 180 new SEND places for children aged 7-19 with Communication and Interaction Needs and Autism Spectrum Conditions. In the district, 90% of autistic children in Mole Valley travel more than six miles to school due to a lack of specialist local places. Over 100 autistic children in the district must attend school outside Mole Valley entirely.
Betchwood Valley Academy is sorely needed. But the government is sitting on their hands, not applying for planning permission to get it built.
Betchwood Vale Academy Petition
Sign this petition in support of the proposed Betchwood Vale Academy, and to call on the government to provide these crucial local specialist school places.