Parents Cite “Moral Duty” to Preserve Special School

Families of students attending a residential special school in Kent, which faces potential closure, contend there is a “moral and societal duty” to ensure its continued operation. Wandsworth Borough Council, which manages Bradstow School in Broadstairs, previously stated that a “challenging financial landscape” had led it to initiate consultations regarding the school’s closure. The school currently serves 33 pupils, with placements from fifteen different local authorities. Thirteen of these students are supported by Kent County Council (KCC). Parents are actively campaigning to prevent the closure of the school, which is scheduled for August 2025. A petition launched for this cause has gathered over 1,400 signatures. The petition asserts that it is “a moral and societal duty to put the interests, care, development and future prospects of vulnerable young people and their families front and centre in all considerations about school and care provisions”. Paul O’Dwyer, a Tonbridge resident whose 13-year-old son Henry attends the school, commented: “Out of nowhere, Wandsworth [Borough] Council sent a letter to say they intended to close the school.” He added: “All of the cohort have severe and complex special needs. The majority are non-verbal.” O’Dwyer further stated: “The pupils will be forced into day school or they would just be cared for at home. It would set them back years.” Wandsworth Council indicated that it had collaborated with KCC since 2021 to investigate a potential transfer of the school’s provision, but KCC recently chose not to proceed with the transfer. The school’s budget was £15-16m during the previous academic year, when it accommodated 63 pupils. For the current year, this budget has decreased to between £11-12m. According to parents, cost savings could be achieved by adjusting staff levels to correspond with the decrease in pupil numbers. A Wandsworth spokesperson affirmed: “Our priority is to ensure that any transition, if the decision goes ahead, is smooth and that children continue to receive high-quality, specialised support.” A KCC spokesperson informed the BBC that the authority does not intend to assume responsibility for the school, stating its focus would instead be on “supporting pupils to integrate smoothly into their new provision”.