Harriett Baldwin MP has welcomed news that a new school for autistic children has taken steps forward.

The new Autism Free School, to be named the Enterprise Academy, in Malvern has appointed a team to manage the facility.

The institution will be overseen by the Milton Keynes-based MacIntyre Academies Trust, which already directs four specialist education provisions in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.

 

 

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The West Worcestershire MP has welcomed the advancement of plans, saying: "This is great news for local families and children and I am delighted that the project has leaped forward in this way.

“Over recent months I have met with a variety of private and state providers offering specialist support for children with extra educational needs and the wide consensus is that this will add much needed extra capacity as well as mainstream provision in our primary and secondary schools."

She added: “I know that, for some parents, this new school can’t come quickly enough but each of these steps is important to make sure we get the right provision in place.

“I’m grateful for all the hard work, especially by the council, to get the project this far and I’ll be watching this closely as the plans are finalised.”

The trust is currently working alongside the department for education, as well as Worcestershire County Council, in an effort to move forward with the project.

The council's cabinet is expected to approve the plan by the end of this week.

The new school is expected to start admitting new students in September 2027.