NEW sixth form facilities will be created for two of Cumbria's specialist educational needs schools with an investment of nearly £1 million by Cumbria County Council.

Demand for SEN provision has grown year on year causing special schools in the area to be oversubscribed.

The county council has moved to address the issue, leasing two sites from the Diocese of Lancaster: St Joeseph's Roman Catholic Primary School and space at St Edmund’s Church in Carlisle.

St Joes' in Cockermouth will become home to Mayfield School's new sixth form, addressing annual issues with capacity at the Whitehaven School.

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St Joes' was otherwise set for closure in August following a decision by the council's leadership as attendance numbers had fallen to just one pupil.

Sixth form provision will be hosted for James Rennie School at St Edmund's on Orton Road.

Cumbria County Council's investment will increase Mayfield's capacity from 197 to 230 places and James Rennie School from 159 to 195.

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Father Luis Ruscillo from the Diocese of Lancaster, said: "The Catholic community is very pleased to be able to assist in the provision of special school places. Our facilities are becoming available, and it is a great opportunity to work in partnership with the council to expand James Rennie and Mayfield schools.

"We are especially happy and content that we can make a contribution to the support of children and families with particular needs."

Work will begin on both sites soon and are expected to be complete early next year.

To keep up with demand for places in the interim, James Rennie have applied for planning permission to build a modular building providing two temporary classrooms.

Cllr Sue Sanderson, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools and Education, said: "I’m delighted we’ve been able to commit this money to develop these new 6th form facilities. It’s so important that we create more space in our special schools and this is an innovative way of doing that."

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