Public consultation launches on future of Ivel Valley School
Friday, 19 September 2025
We've launched a consultation on the future of Ivel Valley School in Biggleswade, another example of our investment in children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The demand for SEND places in Central Bedfordshire has almost doubled since 2017, showing just how vital it is to create more opportunities and better facilities for our children and young people.
Ivel Valley, which educates pupils aged 3 to 19 with SEND, is already full and spread across several sites, some of which rely on temporary and outdated buildings.
The consultation sets out 6 possible solutions, from upgrading the existing site, to expanding onto nearby land, or even building a new school. Our preferred option is to upgrade the existing site and expand onto adjacent land – increasing capacity to 330 places and providing modern specialist learning spaces and better parking. This option would also keep pupils on site during the works, helping to minimise disruption.
Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Children's Services and Community Safety, said:
This is an exciting opportunity to provide much-needed extra places for children and young people with SEND, in a way that balances what families need with making the very best use of every pound we spend.
Our preferred option offers a strong solution, but no decision has been made – it’s not a done deal. This consultation is the chance for current parent carers, potential future families, residents and taxpayers to tell us what they think. We want to make sure we get this right, together.
Read more and have your say – your voice matters.
The consultation closes on 19 December.
All of the feedback will be carefully considered before our Executive Committee decides which option to progress. A further, more detailed, consultation will then follow, with a final decision expected in 2026.