At this time, Highshore School is supporting more pupils than it was originally designed for and demand is expected to continue rising.
To address this, the council has put forward proposals to expand the school into a satellite provision, which will be the whole of the former Comber Grove Primary School site, which closed in August 2024 due to falling pupil numbers.
The expansion would create approximately 60-70 new specialist places and ensure more children can access quality education in the borough.
The council is committed to repurposing closed schools for educational uses where it’s possible and makes sense to.
The public consultation closes on 5 May 2025. Residents, parents, staff, and other interested parties are encouraged to share their views via the council’s website or attend upcoming engagement events. Feedback will be used to shape the final proposal before it goes to the council’s cabinet for a formal decision.
The proposed expansion will allow Highshore School to operate across two sites, with options being explored for how best to use the additional space. This could involve creating a dedicated post-16 provision or an integrated space catering to both secondary and sixth-form students.
The proximity of the Comber Grove site, just an eight-minute walk from Highshore School, will enable shared resources and staff, ensuring continuity of care and education.
The council has secured £5-7 million to refurbish the Comber Grove site, with planned improvements including a new sports hall, full accessibility enhancements, green improvements for energy efficiency, and a tailored learning environment suited to Highshore pupils’ needs.
If approved, final designs will be developed in collaboration with parents, pupils and the council, with refurbishment works set to take place from summer 2025 to summer 2026. The new Highshore School satellite site is expected to welcome its first pupils in September 2026.
Councillor Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees, said: “We’re working hard to make sure every child in Southwark can have a great education in a local school, including children who need specialist provision.
"Highshore School has been a great success since it opened ten years ago, so much so that it is now oversubscribed. So we are very pleased to be able to consult on these proposal to extend the school and provide more places for secondary aged students with complex mixed needs.
"This is an opportunity for families, staff, and the wider community to share their views and help shape the future of a much loved school."
For more information and to take part in the consultation, visit Project: Highshore Special School Expansion | London Borough of Southwark