The consultation sought views on plans for a 40-place special school for children aged 4 to 11 with Moderate and Additional Learning Difficulties (MALD) and other complex special educational needs.

A total of 108 responses were received during the consultation period, which closed on 2 October 2026.

The feedback has now been reviewed and used to inform the next stage of the process.

The council has published a consultation outcome report summarising the responses received, the key themes raised and the proposed next steps.

Anyone with an interest in the proposed school can view the consultation outcome on the Council’s website.

The Ryefield Centre was identified as a potential location for the new school as an existing council-owned site that could be adapted to provide high-quality specialist education for children within Herefordshire, closer to their families and communities.

The proposed new school forms part of the council’s wider work to increase specialist education provision across Herefordshire and help meet growing demand for specialist school places.

Cllr Ivan Powell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:

"Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation and gave us their views on our proposal to create a new special school in Ross-on-Wye.

“We recognise that there is significant demand for specialist school places for children and young people with additional needs in Herefordshire, and the responses to this consultation will be taken into careful consideration as we progress the proposal that a new special school should be established at the Ryefield Centre.”