Former Sheffield school bought for children with autism

Brantwood School had operated as a girl's private school for 108 years

A former girl's private school in Sheffield is to become a school for children with special needs.

Brantwood School, in Nether Edge closed in February 2010 after the Royal Bank of Scotland said it was no longer financially viable.

The building has been bought by Freeman College to become a residential school for seven to 18-year-olds with autism.

David Huff director of Freeman College said he was "delighted" and hoped the school would open in September.

'Additional provisions'

Mr Huff said: "We realised there was nowhere in this city able to educate young children.

"At the moment the city are having to send those young children to other cities or further afield. So we thought, here's a gap that we can fill and we just spotted Brantwood."

Freeman college currently provides craft-orientated education to those aged over 18 in various locations around the city.

Mr Huff said an investment of about £1.9m had been spent on securing Brantwood and buying items to make it a residential school.

Deborah Woodhouse director of Aspergers Children & Carers Together said: "We welcome the additional provision of education in Sheffiled because there is no specialist education of this, so it's good news."