New Specialist Unit Approved For Students With Autism

Published on: 25 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 27 Mar, 2025

Plans for the development at Brooklands College. Image: Brooklands College/Cala Homes

By Emily Dalton

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Up to 60 new college places for students with autism will be created at a Surrey college.

The county council has approved £5.3m to help build a dedicated specialist educational needs unit for young people aged 16-19 years at Brooklands Technical College in Weybridge.

At present the college caters for 30 students with autism but the new SEND block will provide space for up to 60 pupils. The plans form part of Surrey’s mission to expand the state sector for special education to around 5,760 places by 2032.

Clare Curran, SCC’s Cabinet member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, said: “Expansion of Good or Outstanding specialist educational provision ensures Surrey resident students with additional needs and disabilities who require specialist provision can be educated closer to home and included in their local communities.”

By creating more school and college places in the state system, the county council hopes to save significant amounts of money compared to the private sector. Around £30k per student per year could be saved, according to council documents, meaning the investment scheme could be paid back to the council in three years.

While Surrey County Council is pouring money into the pot, Brooklands Technical College is responsible for building and creating the new SEN dedicated block. Investment is fixed at £5.3m so any added inflation or overspend will have to be covered by the college.

Brooklands Technical College, previously The Weybridge College, started their £45m transformation in September 2024. The project focuses on a central quad with upgraded teaching spaces and industry-level facilities that will be built over the next couple of years.

Planning permission has already been agreed and construction of the SEND block should start in November. Surrey students with additional needs and disabilities should be able to enjoy their new classroom by September 2026.