Former grammar school near Ross could have new lease of life

Plans to convert a former Herefordshire grammar school into a school for pupils with learning difficulties are set to go ahead after a positive response to the idea from the public but major works will have to be carried out on the building first.

Between August and the start of this month, Herefordshire Council sought the public’s views on its plans to provide up to 40 places for boys and girls aged 4 to 11 in the former Ryefield School in Ryefield Road to the east of Ross-on-Wye.

The children would be classed as having moderate and additional learning difficulties.

The council said there was “a pressing need” to increase specialist education provision in the county for such children, many of whom currently face long journeys elsewhere, at significant cost to the public purse.

Now the council says the 108 responses it got from the consultation “demonstrate strong support” for its proposal, with 103 agreeing the new special school should be established, only one disagreeing and four not sure.

“Respondents highlighted the need for additional specialist provision in Herefordshire and the potential benefits of enabling more children to access appropriate education closer to home,” the council has now said.

Issues raised by respondents included which children would be eligible, what transport would be provided and what staffing and specialist support would be available once there.

Given the backing, the council says it “will now proceed to the statutory section 7 invitation process” – under which it will set out its proposal for the school then invite bids from approved groups explaining how they would carry it out.

Meanwhile the council has got the go-ahead from its own planners to first make substantial changes to the building, including replacing most of the roof and windows.

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Case officer Laura Smith concluded that as the proposals were to repair, replace and upgrade the existing building fabric, they amounted to “lawful permitted development” in planning terms.