Charlotte has launched a campaign to save Bristol's excellent special schools

Charlotte has launched a campaign to save our special schools. Special schools in Bristol are either ‘good’ ‘very good’ or ‘outstanding’ according to Ofsted – but the council is looking at shutting one of them down because of their own financial mismanagement.

Having spent almost a £1 million on teacher redundancies, Bristol City Council is now looking to claw back over-spend from children who have special educational needs. In Bristol, a greater percentage of unhappy parents have to appeal to the SEN Tribunal than almost anywhere else in the country to get their child into the school they want. In the long term, this usually costs the council more. It is outrageous that the most vulnerable in our society should bear the brunt of the Council’s financial mismanagement, and madness to turf SEN children out of good schools into more challenging schools.

Charlotte said:

“It is appalling that the council is thinking of closing down one of our special schools. Inclusion can be very good for some children with SEN, but disastrous for others. Parents must be able to choose the school they know is best for their child, that’s what I’m campaigning for.”

The campaign has featured in the Evening Post, on Radio Bristol and on the BBC Politics Show. Please show your support by signing the petition.