Rebuild

From 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday 25 March at Robert Ogden School, the project team will be hosting a drop-in event where you can find out more about the proposals, ask questions and give your feedback on the plans.

Please note that the school area will still be very busy at 4.30pm, and so we ask that visitors arrive from 5pm onwards.

Whilst the proposed school is to accommodate the same number of pupils as the existing site, it would provide a betterment to the existing situation, by providing improvements to the pick-up and drop-off arrangements for children, along with significantly more car parking for staff. Dedicated pick-up/drop-off areas are to be provided for the primary and secondary parts of the school which will allow vehicles to queue within the site rather than queueing on Clayton Lane, as takes place at present. 

The design for the scheme includes for two new dedicated accesses for the school which will allow for better circulation through the school site. As part of the scheme the existing accesses into the school site would be reconfigured to provide a dedicated access to the proposed residential development of 60 dwellings. Based on this quantum of development, it is expected that the dwellings would generate approximately 30 two-way trips in the AM and PM peak hour. 

An independent highways consultancy have been appointed to prepare a Transport Assessment in support of the application. A dedicated school Travel Plan and residential Travel Plan will also be prepared and submitted. BMBC will then undertake a thorough review of these documents in determining the planning application.

The Concept Landscape Masterplan for this specialist Autistic School establishes a calm, legible, and fully inclusive external environment that supports the diverse sensory, social, and physical needs of pupils. The early design intent focuses on creating a predictable and reassuring landscape framework, where movement routes, arrival points, and activity spaces are clearly defined, secure, and easy to navigate.

The masterplan prioritises a balanced sensory experience, offering a gradient of spaces from low-stimulus, quiet zones to more vibrant and engaging play areas. This includes sensory gardens, forest school, small external teaching spaces, structured play zones, and open activity areas, each carefully positioned to mitigate sensory overload and support a range of learning and wellbeing needs.

Secure boundaries, controlled access points, and intuitive wayfinding contribute to a safe and manageable environment for pupils, staff, and visitors. Planting strategies to be detailed developed in the next design stage will emphasise robustness, seasonality, and sensory value—using texture, colour, fragrance, and movement to support therapeutic and visually peasant experience without overwhelming users.

Arrival spaces are designed to be welcoming and orderly, reducing anxiety at key transition times. The internal courtyard and external play areas are shaped to encourage positive social interaction, independence, and opportunities for outdoor learning, while offering quiet refuges for emotional regulation.

It is anticipated that the construction works for the proposed new school will commence in Spring 2027.

Unfortunately, due to the age of the existing school building, there is increasing disruption from flooding and leaks. This disrupts the pupils and their families. It also costs the charity a great deal. Refurbishment is not a viable option and so if the new school was to not be built, closure would be the only option. This would have significant impact on the families we support, the 250 members of staff, the provision of specialist care in the north of England, and the development and future of the pupils.

We expect the total cost of building and fitting-out the new school to be more than £20 million. This will be funded through sale of assets owned by the National Autistic Society, sale of the existing site for local housing, legacies, National Autistic Society reserves and fundraising.

Outline planning is being sought for the site of the existing school, which will be demolished once the new school is complete. Barnsley Council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, which means that there will not be enough homes for the estimated population growth. The relocation of the school will mean that there is then a brownfield vacant site that would be ideal for sustainable housing development.

This housing scheme will also assist in the financial viability of bringing forward this important facility to support children in the long term.

We are still in the process of finalising the proposals, which the community consultation will inform where appropriate. It is our intention to submit an application in Spring 2026.

Barnsley Council as the local planning authority will consider the application and make a decision on whether to approve or refuse.

Once the planning application has been submitted, residents will have the opportunity to comment on the application via Barnsley Council’s planning portal.

No, the new school will support the same number of pupils as the current one. However, we plan for there to be less impact on local residents. The new school will provide improvements to the pick-up and drop-off arrangements for children, along with significantly more car parking for staff.

Dedicated pick-up/drop-off areas are to be provided for the primary and secondary parts of the school which will allow vehicles to queue within the site rather than queueing on Clayton Lane, as takes place at present.