Bournemouth, Education | Posted on March 13th, 2026 | return to news

Former school campus to reopen for SEND pupils in Bournemouth

Children and young people with special educational needs will be supported by an increase in school places at the former Parkfield School site.

Children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) will be supported by an increase in specialist school places at the former Parkfield School site in Bournemouth.

Up to 216 children will be able to access specialist provision at the site, which will operate as a new satellite of Linwood School in Bournemouth.

BCP Council will work with Linwood School to prepare and develop the site, which will feature specialist learning areas, calm internal layouts, and therapy and sensory spaces. The approved works are intended to be funded through the council’s high needs capital grant programme.

Cllr Richard Burton, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for children and young people, said: “We are working to deliver our ambitious programme to transform home-to-school travel, supporting children to build skills for life.

“As part of this, the council will work creatively with Linwood School to develop sustainable travel options that help families access the new campus.”

Gemma Talbot, the executive headteacher at Linwood School, said: “This expansion comes in response to the growing demand for specialist places across the area.

“We recognise the challenges many families face in securing the right provision for their children, and this development represents an important step in ensuring that more pupils can access personalised, high-quality education closer to home.”

The campus is expected to open on a phased basis, with initial estimates suggesting that the first phase could open in autumn 2027.