Published: Thursday 26 August 2021
Kensington Queensmill, Kensington and Chelsea’s first dedicated school for children with autism and learning difficulties, has been handed over to staff ahead of welcoming pupils at the start of September.
New Head of School Andy Nowak took a tour of the new school, which is located on Barlby Road and has been made possible thanks to a £39 million investment from Kensington and Chelsea Council that has also provided brand new premises for neighbouring Barlby Primary School.
The schools are linked by a bright and spacious central hall, with Kensington Queensmill offering space for more than 80 pupils in state-of-the-art facilities including 13 classrooms, soft therapy and wet play areas, music and art rooms, and outdoor gym equipment.
Staff are now applying the final touches to the school’s classrooms ahead of the first intake of pupils arriving on Monday 6 September.
Cllr Josh Rendall, Lead Member for Family and Children’s Services, said:
“I'm so pleased to open our first dedicated school for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Children with special needs will no longer have to travel outside our borough for their education, and so it’s wonderful that we now have this state-of-the-art school for them right in the heart of our community.
“The investment we have made in Kensington Queensmill and the new Barlby Primary School with their amazing facilities will make a huge difference to these children and their families and we can’t wait to see them flourish.”
Andy Nowak, Head of School at Kensington Queensmill, said:
“I am honoured and hugely excited at the prospect of welcoming our dedicated staff, wonderful parents and, most importantly, amazing children and young people over the coming weeks.”
Freddie Adu, Executive Head of Kensington Queensmill and the Queensmill Trust, said:
“We are all aware of the dire shortage of special needs places, and the children and families that will attend Kensington Queensmill will have an enormous opportunity to improve educational outcomes and life-chances.
“Andy and the team very much look forward to welcoming all of them as they arrive at the school for the first time and for us a trust, we could not be prouder of how this journey will begin.”