Views sought over plans to create new special educational needs school in Gosport
Residents are being invited to share their views on plans to create 70 new special educational needs (SEN) places at a former Gosport school.
Under the proposals, Hampshire County Council would repurpose the former Peel Common Infant School site to operate as a satellite provision run by Waterloo School based in Havant. Subject to approval, the new places would open from September 2027.
The provision would focus on supporting children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, helping to meet growing demand for specialist education locally.
An informal consultation has already taken place, with residents voicing strong support for the plans. One Gosport resident described the additional 70 places as “well needed” for children in the area. Another parent highlighted the challenges families face in securing specialist provision.
They said: “I cannot express enough how needed these special education schools are. My son is currently in a specialised education setting, and I had to fight hard for over a year to ensure he managed to get a placement.
“These types of settings are so important for young people who require more complex education plans.
“No child should be without education, but they should be able to access the type of education they individually require to thrive instead of just surviving.”
Hampshire County Council says the use of satellite sites to expand specialist school provision has been “proven successful” in other parts of the county. In August 2025, the council confirmed that The Aviary, Peel Common Infant School and Pennington Infant School were surplus to requirements and could be repurposed for SEND provision.
Council papers say the Peel Common site presents a “unique opportunity” to make use of existing, purpose-built education to deliver “much-needed” specialist provision for Gosport and surrounding communities. The former school was designed to accommodate up to 180 infant-aged mainstream pupils and external areas, including an integrated 30-place nursery.
To create the new SEND places, works would be required to reconfigure and update internal layout, add specialist areas, and provide suitable parking and drop-off and pick-up facilities. The revenue cost of the project is estimated at £1.71 million. The works themselves will cost £6.2 million.
The decision to proceed with a full public consultation was approved by the council’s cabinet member for education, Cllr Steve Forster, on January 21.