Bexley Opens £16m All-Through SEND School as Shenstone Expansion Officially Unveiled

The London Borough of Bexley has celebrated the official opening of the expanded Shenstone School, which now offers all-through SEND provision for pupils aged 2 to 19.

The London Borough of Bexley has officially opened the expanded Shenstone School, marking a significant milestone in the borough’s commitment to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The new all-through school, which formally opened in September, now provides education for pupils aged two to 19, offering a continuous and specialist learning pathway for families across the borough.

£16 Million Investment to Meet Growing SEND Demand

Nearly £16 million has been invested in the project, including £9.5 million through Bexley’s Safety Valve Programme, with further funding provided by the Department for Education SEND grants secured by the Council. The result is a purpose-built secondary site on Halt Robin Road, adjacent to Cornerstone School.

The new building complements Bexley’s two existing SEND free schools – Cleeve Meadow and Cornerstone – along with an additional 140 new specialist Resource Provision places created across the borough.

A Milestone for Bexley’s SEND Community

Council Leader Cllr David Leaf and Cabinet Member for Education and Corporate Services Cllr Caroline Newton joined pupils, parents and staff on Friday 29 November for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, alongside Deputy Mayor Cllr Janice Ward-Wilson.

Cllr Leaf praised the achievement as “an exciting new chapter” for Shenstone School and for families in Bexley.

“It demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality education and ensuring every student is seen, supported and primed for success,” he said. “The Local Authority has shown, through forward-thinking and planning, that we are up to the challenge of being inclusive and innovative.”

He also thanked pupils, their families, borough staff, TKAT and Shenstone’s own team for their “commitment, adaptability and passion”.

State-of-the-Art Facilities for Local Families

Cllr Newton highlighted the centre’s high-quality facilities and the positive impact they will have on local children.

“The expansion is an excellent example of the quality of specialist provision we provide for our SEND pupils in Bexley,” she said. “It provides an exceptional environment and state-of-the-art facilities for pupils to grow and learn and will be an invaluable asset to the borough for years to come.”

She also expressed gratitude to parents and carers for their patience throughout the development phase, and to school staff and TKAT for their close partnership working.

Meeting Rising Needs Across the Borough

The expansion, delivered in collaboration between the Council, Shenstone School, TKAT (The Kemnal Academies Trust) and the Department for Education, comes in response to rising demand for specialist SEND places in Bexley.

With the new permanent secondary site now open, the school begins a new chapter as a fully integrated all-through provider supporting some of the borough’s most vulnerable young people.