A NEW school for 72 pupils with emotional and mental health needs will open in Bradford to relieve the pressure on the district’s already bulging special schools.

Bradford Council has been given approval from the Department for Education for the new free school, for pupils between the ages of 10 and 19.

The Council says it will provide a "centre of excellence" which can bring together specialised education, health and care services in one campus.

It will include residential facilities to support the needs of pupils and will be the first free school of its type in West Yorkshire.

Although a location for the new school has yet to be announced, the Council hopes will be up and running by 2020/21.

The authority will be inviting bids to find a sponsor to run the new school.

The district’s existing special education needs schools are all currently at full capacity, and the special educational needs population in the district is expected to rise by 10 per cent in the next three years. This is partly due to the rise in children diagnosed with conditions such as autism.

Bradford's Schools Forum recently heard that the authority hoped to create 360 new places for pupils with conditions such as autism in the coming years.

Many pupils with additional needs are currently taught in mainstream schools.

Judith Kirk, Deputy Director for Education, Employment and Skills, said: “This is fantastic news for Bradford. Creating more places for children and young people with additional needs is one of our top priorities.

“We are very pleased that the Government has backed our vision for a new school which can deliver specialist education and health services for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.

"This provision will help to ensure we can make a real difference to the lives of young people who need extra support to ensure they can fulfill their potential.”