AN education trust chief says Cornish schoolchildren and communities will be worse off in years to come following the government’s decision to scrap plans to open a new secondary school in Perranporth.

Dr Jennifer Blunden, the chief executive of Truro and Penwith Academy Trust, which was due to run Perranporth Academy, believes the decision will particularly impact children with special education needs as the facility would have been Cornwall’s “flagship for inclusive education.”

The Department for Education has decided to abandon a proposal to build a 1,050 placed school on land off Liskey Hill as “there is not sufficient need for additional places to justify building a whole new school.” But Dr Blunden argues it is “short-term decision making” as she believes the education infrastructure will be needed due to Cornwall’s housing requirement is 4,421 homes yearly.

Dr Blunden said: “The Government is minded to cancel the first new secondary school investment in Cornwall for over 40 years.

“Against a current shortfall of over 100 SEND places on the North Cornwall Coast, by 2030 Perranporth Academy would have been Cornwall’s flagship for inclusive education, building on the proven track record of the Truro and Penwith Academy Trust, with a purpose-built SEND hub and resource base - ensuring children with complex needs were not just supported, but celebrated.

“Perranporth Academy was designed as a school for hope and ambition, championing a Science, Technology and Arts curriculum to meet the need for creative innovators in the green technology and science industries with a strong commitment to celebrating our inclusive ethos through the SEND hub and resource base planned for the school.

“This could have been a skills pipeline for economic investment in Cornwall. We are hugely disappointed that the Government has chosen not to invest in Cornwall’s education infrastructure at a time when Cornwall’s housing requirement is 4,421 homes yearly and there are over 23,000 homes with existing permissions waiting to be built amid a housing crisis. Cornish children, families and communities will be worse off in years to come as a result of this short-term decision making.”

Designed to high sustainability standards, Perranporth Academy was designed to set the benchmark for eco-friendly, inclusive schools - supporting the government’s net zero and sustainability ambitions.

Dr Blunden said: “Plans were ready to go, with the two-year build all set to commence when the Government called a halt to pause the development last summer. The new Academy had overwhelming local support with nearly 1,000 signatures in favour from local parents and packed public meetings.

“Education shouldn’t depend on your postcode. Perranporth and St Agnes are the last communities in Cornwall without a secondary school. Local children - especially those with additional needs - face long, isolating journeys and the new school was an opportunity ensure strong ‘cradle to career’ education within the community.

“The ground-breaking research report ‘Pretty Poverty’ highlighted the hidden poverty behind Cornwall’s natural beauty. Perranporth Academy was designed to keep vulnerable children in their community, cutting costs for families and the council, and giving every child a fair start.”