Plans for Huddersfield’s new school have been revealed

Plans for a new special school in Huddersfield have been unveiled as the council works to tackle “growing and unsustainable” pressure on the borough’s special school places.

An application has now been submitted for the new Woodley School and College, which will move to the site of the former Almondbury High School. The former high school, along with the swimming pool and sports facilities, is due to be flattened in October to make way for the development.

The current Woodley School uses several sites next to the Dog Kennel Bank and will be able to accommodate more students at its refurbished premises. The new site will have 180 places in total and cater for post-16 students.

Kirklees Council says the planned move will provide excellent and improved facilities while reducing the need for pupils to travel outside of Kirklees for education. Work on the new school and college is expected to be completed by autumn 2026.

The Council currently invests in several special schools. The report explains: “The Department for Children’s Services has identified increasing and unsustainable pressure on existing special school places across the borough. Many of the existing special schools in Kirklees are at capacity – or even over capacity”.

A milestone was reached earlier this month when the Cabinet released funds to support the Woodley School scheme and a similar one for the Joseph Norton Academy. In total, the two developments will cost just over £48m, which is £11m more than the original projection – the funds being a mix of government grants and council loans.

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The Joseph Norton Academy will move from Scissett to Deighton, with planning permission already granted for the redevelopment. The academy currently has 63 places for pupils with social-emotional and mental health difficulties and will double its number of places at the new premises.

This scheme is due to be completed in spring 2026.

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