RESIDENTS and community groups are being asked to comment on the future of a former Catholic boarding school bought by Dorset Council for more than £10million.

The 55 acre ft St Mary’s School site, near Shaftesbury, was purchased last month.

Dorset Council’s preferred option is to use the site as a school to provide education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

But a consultation has been launched so the wider community can have its say.

Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset Council, said: “We are very ambitious for this site and for our children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities.

“St Mary’s has amazing facilities and we believe it could be used to provide excellent educational opportunities closer to home.

“Pupils with SEND often have to travel far outside Dorset, as we do not currently have enough provision for them. This costs around £14m a year, as buying independent, external provision is far more expensive.

“We believe creating a school with high quality facilities closer to home would be better for our children and young people and could also save money in the future.”

St Mary’s is currently a large, well-equipped school, which was run as a private school until last summer, says the council.

It is set within large grounds and has extensive educational facilities.

The buildings date from the early 20th century to the 21st century. However, despite appearances, it is not a historic building.

Cllr Flower also said it was worth noting that opportunities to secure sites like this for Dorset are very rare.

“It would cost a great deal more, and take several years, to build such a wonderful facility like this from scratch,” he said. “This is a clear example of investing to save, St Mary’s has been well maintained and has lots of amazing modern facilities.

“We now want to work with local people and groups to create a great facility that will be a community, and perhaps an educational resource, for Dorset.

“It offers exciting potential for many other community uses too.”

Complete the survey at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/business-consumers-licences/dorset-property/current-building-projects/former-st-marys-school-site-shaftesbury.aspx before the March 18 deadline.