A new campus for young people in Swindon with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) officially opened this week.
The new Links Campus, operated by Churchward School, provides specialist education to students requiring varying levels of support.
Located within UTC Swindon on Bristol Street, the campus, which began welcoming students in September, was formally unveiled on 11th December. The event saw Swindon Borough Council staff and councillors meet with students and staff to celebrate the milestone.
Housed in a historic building once used as a production centre for the Great Western Railway, the campus boasts bespoke teaching spaces and areas for collaboration. Students also benefit from access to UTC Swindon’s state-of-the-art facilities, creating a unique learning environment tailored to their needs.
The creation of the extra SEND places forms part of the Council’s work to ensure young people in Swindon are given dedicated specialist support throughout their education. Sixty places across Swindon were created at the start of the academic year, while further primary school places will be made available from both January and September 2025.
Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, Cabinet Member for Education, praised the campus, stating: “The work at Churchward School demonstrates the importance of the right support and environment for young people to thrive. It was inspiring to hear directly from the students about how the new Links Campus is positively impacting their education and lives.
She added, “We know the demand for school places continues to grow. That’s why we are using additional funding to develop plans for a new special school in Swindon, ensuring our mission to create a fairer, better town is achieved.”
Dave Dearsley, Headteacher at Churchward School, highlighted the growing need for SEND support, saying: “The pressure for places at Churchward School is growing year on year. Having opened in 2018 with 20 students we now have 125 students on roll and the demand continues to far exceed the places available. Working with the local authority and UTC Swindon we have been able to grow again this academic year to meet some of this demand.
“This is an excellent opportunity for students at Churchward School to develop links with mainstream peers as they continue their journey towards becoming independent learners.
“Churchward School’s unique approach has been so successful that 90 per cent of students are ready to move into a less specialist environment ahead of time, with students leaving Churchward School and successfully transitioning into mainstream school or college, apprenticeships and work.
“I know that the partnership we are building with UTC will provide additional opportunities for our students to achieve their full potential and become active members of the community.”
He added, “Our unique approach prepares 90 per cent of students to transition successfully into mainstream environments, apprenticeships, or employment. The partnership with UTC Swindon opens even more doors for our students to achieve their full potential and become active community members.”
The Links Campus represents a vital resource for Swindon’s SEND community, with its innovative approach setting a benchmark for future developments in education.
