Maen House, Dorchester – being proposed for a special school for 30 pupils A FORMER ‘gentleman’s residence’ in Dorchester could be converted to an independent school for children with additional needs. Maen House, in Maen Gardens off Culliford Road North, could be converted for up to 30 pupils, some with learning disabilities or autism. An application paper with the change of use application says that it could have 25 full-time staff and a small number of part-time posts. It plans to be open from 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday and has adjoining car parking for a dozen vehicles. The application, which will be decided by Dorset Council, comes from Potens, a national social care and education provider, which currently operators a small, independent school, Arbour House in Weymouth, for students aged 6-18 with special educational needs including learning disabilities and autism.