Dudley to get new £1.2m education and training centre

Pensnett High School has been lying empty for four years since the last students left after completing their exams.

Now Dudley Council has revealed it wants to set up a learning base to provide education for people over the age of 16 with learning disabilities. A £1million grant has been secured towards the project, which includes demolishing former buildings on the site. These will be main school building that fronts Tiled House Lane and the linked science block.

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The new centre which will be created by refurbishing one of the remaining buildings will be run by Pens Meadow Special School.

Members of the council's cabinet will be asked to approve the project including the demolition work at a meeting on Wednesday. A series of consultation events on the proposals will take place later this year.

Councillor Tim Crumpton, cabinet member for children's services, said: "This is brilliant, as it means we have a great opportunity for some of our special needs children to lead a good quality of life post 16 close to their parents. If we talk about loving our community, this is it.

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"It will also make use of an empty school site which is costing money to secure, which I am sure will be welcomed by the local community too."

The council has secured £1million from the Education Funding Agency for the work, with a further £270,000 coming from the council.

said the scheme would reduce the number of young people being forced to travel out of the borough to attend school.

Interim director of children's services Pauline Sharratt said: "There is currently a shortfall of places for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities so that they can continue their education and learning in Dudley.

"As a result of this shortfall, many young people have to travel out of borough to acquire a suitable place."

Ward councillor Judy Foster said: "I welcome the plans as it will means the school is used again for a valuable purpose."

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Pensnett High School in Tiled House Lane closed in 2010 following dwindling pupil numbers and failing targets. The 11 per cent GCSE pass rate was well below the national 30 per cent target rate and at the time council education officers said it as 'failing' pupils.

The school shut in August that year despite a public campaign to save it with parents saying they didn't want their children's education disrupted.