Public consultation reopens on future of Ivel Valley School
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Central Bedfordshire Council has reopened its public consultation on the future of Ivel Valley School in Biggleswade.
The consultation was paused for a short time last month after some externally shared information differed from the official consultation materials and may have caused confusion.
Some new questions and answers have now been published on the Council's website to help clarify any misunderstandings, although the six consultation options remain the same.
The deadline has been extended to Thursday 22 January 2026, so everyone has the same amount of time to respond. Feedback already submitted remains valid.
Councillor Steve Owen, Executive Member for Children’s Services and Community Safety, said:
We’re pleased to reopen the consultation on the proposed expansion of Ivel Valley School. The short pause allowed us to clarify any misunderstandings, so residents can engage with confidence. We value public feedback and remain committed to expanding SEND provision — since 2023/24, we’ve delivered 118 new SEND places across Central Bedfordshire. A new 12-place social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) provision at Shefford Lower School, has welcomed its first pupils. And in December, a new SEMH primary school will open in Dunstable, until the permanent site at the former Pulloxhill Lower school site is open. Like these projects, the proposed expansion of Ivel Valley is designed to meet future demand for SEND places. I encourage everyone with an interest to take part in the consultation.
Engagement events (online webinars and library displays) will be hosted throughout the consultation process. The dates and times of these along with more information about each option, plus how to take part are available on the Ivel Valley consultation web pages.
Once the consultation closes, all feedback will be reviewed by the Council’s Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee and then its Executive Committee before deciding which option to progress. A second statutory consultation will follow, with more detail on the proposed option, before a final decision expected in summer 2026.