Plan to rebuild Westfield School: New mini bus wanted

Westfield School in Leominster is a maintained special school with more than 60 pupils with severe or complex learning difficulties within the age range of two to 19 years.

However, the school building is no longer deemed fit for purpose and there are plans to rebuild it.

The school had previously raised funds for a hydrotherapy pool, but with the new plans including a pool funded by the Department for Education, Westfield is hoping to redirect the funds elsewhere.

The school instead wants to use the money raised for a new minibus.

Zoe Burge in the school's current minibus (Image: ROB DAVIES) Headteacher Nicki Gilbert said: "We are asking members of the public who historically donated money towards our bubble appeal whether they would consent to their money being used to purchase an accessible minibus.

"Westfield School has since been recognised within the local authority's capital strategy as requiring a full rebuild to better meet the needs of the young people with severe and profound learning difficulties. 

"With the publicised possible future rebuild of the school, which would include a hydrotherapy pool, it would be unethical and strategically impossible to fulfil the criteria needed for ongoing fundraising for this project.

"In order to access hydrotherapy, we hire the pool at Beacon College, and drive pupils twice weekly in our existing bus so they can access 40 minutes of therapy. Our current bus is close to the end of its life, and we need a replacement."

Anyone who objects to their donation being used for a minibus can contact the Westfield School PTFA or email ktisdale@westfield.hereford.sch.uk.

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In 2021, schools capital investment advisor Sue Woodrow told the children's and young people scrutiny committee that the whole site was unsuitable.

“All three of the buildings are not fit for purpose. For example, the corridors in the main building are far too narrow for two wheelchairs to pass,” she said.

“There’s a whole host of suitability issues. It’s an investment in probably new build. It’s a full-scale feasibility into the best option for this school going forward.

“We are talking about a holistic approach, using the best information we have about the numbers of children we need to accommodate and proposing some of the ways we might need to move forward.”