New Cheltenham School
In September 2025, the Department for Education confirmed Enable Trust as the preferred sponsor for Gloucestershire’s new 200‑place special school in Cheltenham.
Gloucestershire County Council’s planning committee approved the plans for the new school on 19 March 2026, marking a significant milestone in delivering the all‑through school for pupils aged 4–16.
The £20 million school will cater for pupils with complex learning difficulties (CLD), including autism and associated communication and interaction needs. It will serve both primary and secondary aged pupils and will be built on land off Arle Road in Cheltenham.
The school is scheduled to open in 2028.
Enable Trust is delighted to be working in partnership with local schools, trusts, and Gloucestershire Local Authority to support children with complex special educational needs across the region.
For more information on the new school, visit https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/chelt-special-school
Architects Design: 
Consultation on the proposed name for the new Cheltenham SEND School
Please share your views by completing the online form here
Enable Trust is seeking your views on the proposed name for a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school to be built on land off Arle Road, Cheltenham (GL51 8LB).
The plans were approved by Gloucestershire County Council’s Planning Committee on 19 March 2026. The school will provide specialist education and support for children and young people with SEND, offering a high‑quality, inclusive, and nurturing environment that supports pupils academically, socially, and emotionally, while building strong links with families and the wider community.
The proposed name for the new school is Cheltside Academy.
Enable Trust has chosen this name to reflect the school’s connection to its local area. It references the River Chelt, a key natural feature of the locality, and follows the established approach used by other new schools in Enable Trust, where names are rooted in local geography or landmarks. We believe the name is clear, appropriate, and reflective of the school’s place within the community it will serve.
We welcome your feedback, including considerations you feel should be taken into account. All responses will be carefully reviewed before a final decision is made.
The consultation will run from Monday 18th May to Friday 5th June.
How to respond:
Please share your views by completing the online form here
Thank you for taking the time to contribute and help shape the identity of this new school.
The survey should take no more than 3–5 minutes to complete.