PLANS to build a new £6m school have been unveiled.

Under the Northumberland County Council plans, pupils at Hexham Priory special school would benefit from a brand new building and facilities, increasing the school’s capacity, currently just over 60, by 21 places.

While the plans are still only at an early stage, funding is already in place and the council is set to make a final decision on the development early next year.

Trevor Doughty, executive director of children’s services at the council, said: “Schools such as Hexham Priory provide specialist support not available in mainstream schools.

“We want to reduce the number of children who have to travel outside of the county for their education, so we need to look at how we can meet their needs within their community. The proposal to increase the number of places at the school within a new building with modern facilities is a direct response to the needs of children with special educational needs and their families.”

The school caters for children with profound learning difficulties, sometimes combined with physical disabilities.

The development would also include a library and two halls.

The two-storey school building would be built next to its current site at Dene Park. The old school will eventually be demolished.