MP Maria Miller met virtually with the New Head Teacher of the Austen Academy Elizabeth Cooper . The new school is for children aged 5-16 years who have social and communication difficulties or autistic spectrum disorder. The facility will reduce the need to place pupils in non-county establishments. The school’s design incorporates specialist solutions to cater for children’s special educational needs and disabilities, as well as the highest environmental features to reduce energy consumption and mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Austen Academy is named after novelist Jane Austen, who was born in the Basingstoke and Deane borough, and it is due to open in Spring 2021. The £10.1m school development is funded by the Department for Education’s fund for special educational needs and disabilities. Hampshire County Council has been commissioned to oversee the design and delivery of the school, which is currently being delivered on budget and ahead of time. The site will be leased to Catch 22 Multi Academy Trust, who also operate Coppice Spring and Ashwood Academies in Basingstoke.
Maria commented; “ It was great to speak to Elizabeth and her experience as a Head Teacher with pupils with Special Educational Needs is invaluable.”
“This new facility will be of huge benefit to children with Special Educational Needs, but also an asset for the local community. The Austen Academy is another example of how the Government is investing in Basingstoke’s local infrastructure, and I look forward to seeing the finished school open in the Spring of 2021. Parents wishing to send their children to the school should consult Hampshire County Council and the admissions policy is given on the following link: https://www.catch-22.org.uk/the-austen-academy-consultation/#admissions."