A SPECIAL school has unveiled £9m plans to replace its ‘dilapidated’ building with facilities pupils deserve.

The Iffley Academy in Oxford wants to demolish its current 1960s base for a state-of-the-art replacement.

Thought to be Oxfordshire’s largest special school in terms of numbers and teaches 138 pupils.

Documents submitted to Oxford City Council state: “The main existing school building is well beyond its natural life and no longer suitable for modern teaching requirements of a [special educational needs] school.

“The development will enable the school to function within a better quality building, together with a much-improved layout, parking and drop-off area.

“It will enable innovative and exciting spaces for learning to flourish.”

The building in Iffley Turn, described in the plan as ‘dilapidated’, dates back to the 1960s and has been occupied by the school since the 1970s.

The school teaches youngsters aged 10-18 with a range of needs including learning difficulties, autism and mental health issues.

Plans would see the one-storey 2,040m² block and temporary classrooms scrapped in place of a new 3,050m² two-and-a half-storey building.

An additional one-storey building would house an animal welfare and horticulture centre, with another containing a construction workshop.

Children would be able to enjoy sensory planting, an outdoor ‘calm area’, a woodland walk and sports area.

Others spaces would allow for vocational and life skills training, and an enclosure for the school’s therapy dogs.

The current sixth-form block will stay in place.

Oxford Mail:

Headteacher Kay Willett said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our learners to be educated in a building which will offer them the specialist facilities, vocational learning opportunities, and the state-of-the-art classrooms that they deserve.

“We are proud of our school and the achievements of our pupils.”

The Education and Skills Funding Agency, sponsored by the Department for Education, will fund the project.

The Iffley Academy, which Ofsted judged as ‘outstanding’ in 2015, was forced to rebrand in 2016.

Formerly called The Isis Academy, it was subjected to jibes about the so-called ISIS terrorist group.

The council is due to decide on the plans by April, with work can start by the end of June, ready for pupils within two years. To view plans, search application 17/03380/FUL at oxford.gov.uk