A WORCESTERSHIRE special school could move to a new site close to mainstream schools in Worcester.

A county council-owned site at Merrimans Hill has been recommended as the ideal spot to relocate Cliffey House Special School, which is currently near Hanley Castle.

Members of the county's education/lifelong learning panel were due to discuss the plans at a meeting today.

The panel, comprising representatives from the council, teachers and parent-governors, was expected to consider whether there were any other specific issues that need to be addressed.

It was also due to discuss what advice it would wish to offer the Cabinet to enable it to determine a consultation document.

Learning difficulties

Cliffey House would also change its age range and the number of places available to pupils, who all have moderate learning difficulties.

The age range could be reduced from 11 to 19 to 11 to 16.

This would also take the number of places down from 132 to 98, with six available for children with autistic spectrum disorders.

The school was re-organised last year under a package of proposals agreed by the Secretary of State.

But the panel will hear that the school needs to be moved because of isolation, the poor state of buildings and critical Ofsted inspections.

The site at Merrimans Hill will enable closer working to be developed with other schools and colleges and will provide the school with state-of-the-art accommodation and equipment.