The site in Theobalds Park Road would act as a “satellite operation” to an existing school in Enfield Town, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The entrance to the stables in Theobalds Park Road and (inset) Kedleston's school plans — The entrance to the stables in Theobalds Park Road and (inset) Kedleston’s school plans

A new special needs school is being proposed on the site of a former horse-riding stables in Clay Hill.

Plans have been submitted to Enfield Council which aim to give the property in Theobalds Park Road, which also includes a bungalow and is in a state of desrepair, a new lease of life.

If approved it would provide 54 school places for children with special educational needs (Send), plus a replacement dwelling likely to be used as a caretaker’s residence.

The site is situated within the Green Belt and also Clay Hill Conservation Area but the new school would make use of the existing stable building’s footprint.

Planning documents submitted by applicant The Kedleston Group, which currently operates 17 schools and homes across England, state the new school would support pupils between the ages of seven and 16 years as well as around 27 members of staff.

The new school in Clay Hill would operate as a “satellite operation” to Silverways School in Enfield Town, which opened in 2021 and is also run by Kedleston. Due to capacity issues, over the past twelve months Silverways has declined 25 pupils, ten of which were from Enfield.

Initial proposals for an 80-pupil school were discussed with the council in 2024 but Kedleston said the council deemed the scale too big, despite a demand for additional Send places for “children with autism and complex needs”.

Instead a smaller school is now proposed which will also offer a “connection with nature” and an “enhanced level of creative and physical education”.

There’s currently only one parking space at the site and the developer has proposed adding 23 more spaces as well as three disabled parking spaces and six cycle spaces.

The school, if built, would join two other new Send schools currently being planned in the borough, including a 96-pupil facility in Enfield Town.

Asked how the Kedleston proposal fits in with the wider expansion of Send provision in Enfield, a council spokesperson said: “This is an independent proposal and, if approved, Kedleston will be responsible for funding the development. Currently, there is a demand for additional affordable SEN places for children with autism and complex needs in the borough.

“Enfield Council is committed to prioritising inclusive education and ensuring all children with SEN can thrive academically in our borough.”

More information on the scheme can be found via Enfield Council’s planning portal, using reference number 25/01458/FUL.

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Silverways School opened in 2001.

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