A Mill Hill school catering for children with special educational needs will start providing secondary places after getting the go-ahead to expand.

Northway Primary School will be allowed to use the Grasvenor Avenue Infant School site in High Barnet from September, which will provide learning space for 48 pupils.

The move, which was confirmed by Barnet Council last week, will follow the closure of Grasvenor Avenue Infant School at the end of the current academic year. It comes amid growing demand for special educational needs and disabilities places in the borough, particularly for those with autism.

Northway Primary School caters for pupils with a range of learning difficulties, particularly those on the autism spectrum.

Headteacher Danielle Barker said: “Northway School is excited to have the opportunity to expand using the Grasvenor Infant School site. There is an increasing demand, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to provide more school spaces for Barnet’s children with special educational needs.

“From September, the Northway Grasvenor site will house 48 pupils with a range of learning difficulties and disabilities, where they will receive the outstanding specialist education Northway is known for. By moving reception and key stage one pupils to Grasvenor, Northway has freed up space to expand into secondary provision; we will have a year seven group in September 2022 and will continue to grow over the next few years.”

Work to prepare the Grasvenor Avenue site for Northway staff and students has already started, although the majority of the work will take place during the summer holidays.

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, who had asked the council and Department for Education to ensure the High Barnet site remained in educational use rather than being sold to developers, welcomed the news.

She said: “While it is sad that Grasvenor School is closing, it is good news that the school buildings will be providing new expanded facilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities. I was determined that the site should not be lost to yet more blocks of flats.

“I am sure Northway students and staff will really benefit from the facilities on their new site. I hope to visit as soon as they are settled in.”