EDUCATION chiefs are set for a partial climb down over controversial changes to a leading special school in Maidstone.

Parents had complained a plan to redesignate Bower Grove Community School in Maidstone could affect their children’s education because some pupils with communication difficulties and autism would move to other schools.

Kent County Council now says the school, in Fant Lane, will continue to offer about 15 places to those pupils, although other changes will still go ahead.

Councillors on KCC’s ruling Conservative cabinet are expected to recommend next week that the school, which currently has 212 pupils with a wide range of disabilities and learning difficulties, should in future cater for fewer than 100 aged five to 16.

But the school will continue to accept certain pupils who, under KCC’s original scheme, could have ended up elsewhere.

Cllr Paul Carter, KCC's cabinet member for education, said: “We are planning to put in an extra 15 places for pupils with behavioural and learning difficulties and I think that is a good compromise. The school has very good facilities and it would frankly be a waste not to use them.”

KCC would provide the funding for the extra places, he added.

Maidstone county councillor Dan Daley (Lib Dem) who has been backing the school’s case, said: “I do hope the authority will listen to the professionals and that any offer which the council makes will be accepted by governors and teachers in a spirit of compromise.”

The changes to Bower Grove stem from a countywide review of all special schools in Kent.

Parents recently handed a petition to KCC protesting about the changes, saying they could set back pupils' progress of. Last month, a cross-party committee of councillors also urged a rethink.

While governors accepted most of the changes proposed, they too asked to be allowed to teach pupils with autism and communication difficulties.