For the past 2 years Lancaster has been working closely with the other schools in our Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and the MAT CEO, Jackie Mullan, on a significant change to the school’s age range. The other schools are Kingsdown School, the St Christopher School and St Nicholas School. 

This collaborative work is in the best interests of all students in the Southend area who need special school places.  

It is common knowledge that there is a national and local shortage of special school places and we have recently completed further building works that takes our capacity from 130 to 160 students on roll. 

Following consultation with the DfE (Department for Education) it has now been agreed that Lancaster’s age range will be 11 – 19 and this significant change will come into effect from September 2026.  

In other words, Lancaster will be catering for Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 from September 2026.  

By doing this Lancaster is able to take younger students from Kingsdown and this means that Kingsdown’s capacity will enable them to accept younger pupils, and therefore help to give more places to very young pupils who desperately need them.