A NEW school for high school pupils with additional learning needs could be opened in Plas Madoc if approved by Wrexham Council’s Executive Board next week.
On Tuesday councillors will examine plans for Copa – a new school to be created at the former Opportunities Centre on Hampden Way.
Funded entirely via Welsh Government grants, the school would have up to 16 pupils in Key Stage Three and Four with complex neuro-diverse conditions, primarily autism.
According to the proposal from the authority’s Education Department, the school will offer a number of benefits to pupils with complex needs.
The plans state that there is no expected impact on the Land Adventure Playground and Little Sunflowers Nursery, both of which are adjacent to the site.
Among the benefits highlighted in the report are increased access to specialist education for pupils with complex needs, improved access to facilities such as sensory rooms which support the needs of young people, less disruption due to changing placements and staff and more effective use of multi-agency resources to offer pupils high quality, flexible support.
Currently these pupils are being educated and supported with out-of-county placements. Offering them the support they need within Wrexham would keep them closer to family and friends and significantly reduce the cost to the council.
If approved the school will open in April 2026, although that will be dependent on the outcome of a statutory public consultation.
In addition to a regular consultation, Wrexham Council will also run a consultation with children and young people and it has created an information pack to explain the process to them in child-friendly language.
