A SPECIAL school in Wimborne has been given the green light to build a new block for students over the age of 16.

Beaucroft Foundation School, which was given an outstanding rating during its last Ofsted inspection, will be able to cater for 12 students with the new building.

The block will add three classrooms to the school, as well a large kitchen, so pupils can build on their life skills before leaving at 19.

Plans were unanimously approved by councillors at East Dorset District Council’s planning committee last week, to the joy of head Paul McGill and governors. Mr McGill, who has been head at the school for 11 years, said: “We could fill the school ten times over.

“We are at our capacity of 150. Our pupils are children with complex learning difficulties, and our catchment area isn’t just East Dorset – we have children from Hampshire, Bournemouth, Poole, all over. There is a massive, massive demand, and that’s why it’s so wonderful that we can get started with this.”

The developments to the school, which will cost around £800,000, could save the local authority millions of pounds.

It is hoped the new block will be ready for use by students in September.