Exciting plans in place to rebuild one of Hertfordshire’s special schools

The Valley School in Stevenage is a special school currently offering places to 153 pupils with learning difficulties, autism, speech, language and communication needs.

We are delighted to confirm that Hertfordshire County Council plans to completely rebuild The Valley School by the end of 2022 when it will be able to accommodate 165 young people. We spoke to Corina Foster, Headteacher of Valley School.

"The Valley School is not a set of buildings.  It is a family of adults and young people who share a commitment to valuing difference and uniqueness.  It is a family where we delight in celebrating achievement and liberation from low expectations.  We work closely with families to give every pupil the chance to have life chances and life choices that are beyond what others sometimes expect.  

For many years, our Valley family has not had a good place to call home.  We have created something very special and become the school of choice, supporting our own pupils and pupils in neighbouring schools to have the very best.  But our location has continued to let us down.  We are delighted that we can now look forward to having a home that fits our needs and allows us to have complete focus on doing the very best for our pupils, rather than fighting a set of aging and decrepit buildings.  

I am very excited to be in at the start of the design process.  I have designed it so many times in my head, although I still don't know exactly what it will look like.  I still don't know how the building process will work.  But I know, without any doubt, how it will feel.  It will feel safe, liberating, inspirational, joyous, unique.  It will be a place where real learning continues to be at the heart of all that we do.  It will be The Valley School of the future.  

It has taken a long time and a lot of hard work, but it is worth every moment." 

Corina, we all wish you the very best!