A new school will be built in Petersham to replace 'derelict' buildings on a site which has been a magnet for anti-social behaviour, including vandalism and arson attempts, since becoming empty in 2018.

The opening of the Clarendon Centre, Petersham, is expected to see local kids with special educational needs avoid a 'tiring' journey across the River Thames to go to school.

The new school on Meadlands Drive will be managed by the Auriga Academy Trust, which already runs the Clarendon School across three sites in Richmond for kids with special educational needs – including a primary and secondary school.

Old buildings for the Strathmore School will be knocked down to make way for the Clarendon Centre, which will have around 77 pupils and 35 to 40 staff, after the scheme was approved by Richmond Council's planning committee on Wednesday (June 14).

About the new school, Lib Dem councillor Penny Frost said: "It will be welcomed by all parents on the Richmond side [of the borough] because that avoids that daily journey across the river which is so tiring and trying for the young people… from the Richmond side who are having to go across the river to the splendid sites on the Hampton and Twickenham and Whitton sites but nothing on our side. It's been a long time coming to fruition."

Visualisation of the new Clarendon Centre. Credit: rbmp ltd/Richmond Council, provided in Richmond Council planning documents

She added: "The demolition of the old Strathmore school building is going to be a great relief not just for the Russell School staff who are constantly having to report children on the roof et cetera et cetera, but to all the local residents as well because there is a great concern about this site and the lack of ability to sort of respond to… getting this building clear."

The Clarendon Centre will be for pupils aged four to 19 and include 10 classrooms, four specialist teaching spaces, offices, therapy rooms, play areas and a sensory garden.

In a statement read out by a council officer, John Kipps, executive headteacher of Clarendon School, said Clarendon has 167 pupils and the need for more places is "clear and compelling". He said the new school will cater for "our lower ability pupils". 

He said: "At the start of the next academic year, in September, we have 19 places available for new pupils. We have had more than 140 referrals for places so far. We have accepted and agreed 26 new starters, taking us back over number. Of the remaining referrals, we have said that we could have met the needs of nearly 50 of the pupils but that we are full and therefore unable to offer a place.

"For these pupils the options are limited, some will go into mainstream schools with specialist resource provisions but many will need to go to specialist schools in other authorities that might have capacity or to independent special schools which are usually significantly more expensive."

Mr Kipps said the new site will provide 95 extra places for Clarendon pupils in total – including 77 at the new school and the opening up of a further 18 at the existing sites.

He added: "Like Strathmore School, that was previously situated on the proposed site, we would be mindful of the impacts on local residents and would want to work closely with them to ensure that any impacts are minimised and that the site and our facilities are seen as a valuable community resource."

Strathmore School moved out of Meadlands Drive in 2018 after splitting into two sites. A coucil report said: "The proposals would bring a currently derelict site back into its former use. The provision of a new SEND school would help to meet the current education needs of the borough."

An earlier planning statement by agent Daniel Watney added: "Having been vacant since 2018, the site has been the subject of extensive anti-social behaviour including vandalism and arson attempts and the buildings are now in a significant state of disrepair."

The committee unanimously approved the application at the meeting