History of Columbus School and College

Columbus School and College (CSC) has been established after an interesting journey dating back to 2000. CSC was formerly two separate special needs schools in Chelmsford –Woodlands School in Patching Hall Lane and The Hayward School in Maltese Road.

Woodlands School catered for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex learning difficulties aged 3 – 19 years and Hayward School catered for children with moderate learning difficulties and autism aged 4 – 16 years.        

The two schools federated in 2005 to form Chelmsford New Model Special School with a single governing body. There were two campuses – Woodlands Campus and Hayward Campus. 

On 1st September, 2009 the two schools formally amalgamated to form Columbus School and College.

In Spring 2011, funded by the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, both campuses opened the fantastic new buildings that the students are learning in today. 

Both buildings won Commendations in the Civic Trust Awards in March 2013.

On 1st May 2012, shortly after moving into our new buildings, Columbus became an academy sponsored by the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET). As part of a large national organisation Columbus will be able to work in partnership with other mainstream and special schools around Essex and the country to ensure we continue to offer excellence to our children, young people and their families.