A NEW school in Barrow could be open by 2022, an education leader has revealed.

The Mail exclusively revealed last week that plans have been submitted for a 40-place Alternative Provision school on derelict land in the town.

The new facility would provide a place for children with social, emotional and mental health needs.

If given the green light, the site, on derelict land on Channelside, would be brought back to life.

Sue Sanderson, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member schools and learning, said there could be more schools of the kind built in the county. Another plan has been submitted by the county council for one in Carlisle.

“We will build two and possibly more" she said.

"There are primary schools taking on the children with special emotional issues now also. But first it has got to through planning for Carlisle and Barrow. Then once it's approved, it will go ahead. Doors open in Barrow in 2022 and will be managed by the pupil referral unit.

“These will have amazing facilities for children needing social and emotional support, who will be caught early on in the system and then turned around back into mainstream school and education again.

"This is part of our inclusions strategy so it’s wonderful that children won’t have to be sent out of the county to independent schools.”

As part of the planning application, a spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “The council has been looking into suitable sites for alternative education since 2016.

“We identified two new places for alternative provision in education, one in Carlisle and one on a site in Barrow.

“Our aim is to provide a genuine alternative curriculum and education experience for children and young people unable to access mainstream schools.”

The application states the school has to be an adaptable building, able to change its use throughout its lifetime; of approximately 60 years, with the option to extending the building if pupil numbers grow.

The UK has had alternative provision schools since 1993. They are designed to prevent exclusions from mainstream school or improve behavioural problems so that students can re-access mainstream education.

The Channelside site has been vacant since 1985.

It was later levelled and a promenade added to try and attract investors.