New special educational needs school opens its doors

Following the successful handover of the building in July, Paddock School has relocated from Priory Lane in Roehampton to the new site on Broadwater Road and welcomed students at the start of the 2025/26 academic year.

Today’s ceremony, which brought together pupils, school staff, councillors, and community partners, marks the completion of a landmark project to expand specialist education provision for children and young people with SEND in Wandsworth.

Wandsworth Council has invested £41 million in expanding SEND provision in the borough, creating over 271 places since 2021. This investment is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to ensuring every child in Wandsworth can access high-quality education close to home.

Alongside Paddock School’s expansion, new specialist resource bases have been created in mainstream schools, and existing SEND settings have been upgraded, helping to build a more inclusive borough where children with additional needs can succeed.

The new Secondary and Sixth Form school has been designed with accessibility, wellbeing and learning at its heart, featuring bright classrooms, therapy spaces, and modern outdoor areas that support every young person to be the best they can be.

As part of the celebrations, pupils helped bury a time capsule in the school grounds, filled with items and artwork designed by students to capture life at Paddock. The capsule will be opened in years to come, offering future generations a glimpse into the school’s history. The day also featured a special performance from the school’s very own boyband, The Blue Boys, adding a lively touch to the morning.

Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Children, said: “We are committed to ensuring children with special educational needs can access high quality support locally.

“Paddock’s new home represents the very best of what we want for Wandsworth, schools that give every child the opportunity to grow, succeed and follow their ambitions, close to home, in an environment that supports and celebrates them.

“This investment reflects our belief that every child matters and deserves the best possible start in life.

“I want to thank everyone involved for their dedication in making this vision a reality.”

The expansion of Paddock School is a central part of Wandsworth’s SEND Strategy, which focuses on early intervention, inclusion, and strong partnerships with families to ensure every child receives the right support at the right time.

The new facility will allow the school to offer more local placements and reduce the need for families to travel outside the borough for specialist education.

Sarah Santos, Headteacher of Paddock School, added: “This is a special day for our whole school community. Walking through these doors every morning, you can feel the excitement and pride of our pupils and staff.

“The building has been designed around the needs and aspirations of our young people, and we can already see the positive impact it’s having on their confidence, engagement and joy in learning.”

The Council’s ongoing investment in local specialist provision forms part of a wider ambition to make Wandsworth one of the most inclusive boroughs in London, where every child can access high-quality education and thrive in their community.