West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed news that the new Autism Free School in Malvern is moving forward following the appointment of a team to run the new facility.

The school, which will be known as the Enterprise Academy, will be run by Milton Keynes-based MacIntyre Academies Trust, which already runs four specialist education provisions in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.

The Department for Education wrote to Harriett confirming the news that the Academy Trust is now working with Departmental officials and Worcestershire County Council to move the project forward.

The council’s cabinet is expected to approve the plan later this week and the new school is expected to welcome new pupils in September 2027.

Harriett said:

“This is great news for local families and children and I am delighted that the project has leaped forward in this way.

“Over recent months I have met with a variety of private and state providers offering specialist support for children with extra educational needs and the wide consensus is that this will add much needed extra capacity as well as mainstream provision in our primary and secondary schools.

“I know that, for some parents, this new school can’t come quickly enough but each of these steps is important to make sure we get the right provision in place.

“I’m grateful for all the hard work, especially by the council, to get the project this far and I’ll be watching this closely as the plans are finalised.”