Cabinet approves £1.92m towards schools Capital Programme

WCC's Cabinet has approved the addition of £1.92 million to the Education (Schools) Capital Programme 2019/20.

This addition to the programme will deliver a range of improvements to existing schools, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, which will help to support the growing population and to boost provision in-county, reducing the need for young people to receive education outside of Warwickshire.

The money received will be allocated between a number of existing schools around the county. In Nuneaton and Bedworth, Exhall Grange School and Science College will receive a further £360,000 following their initial funding in July 2018 to create 44 additional places for learners with SEND. The extra funding will allow for the refurbishment of an existing building, enabling the relocation of the Learning Pod, currently in Coleshill, onto the main school site.

In North Warwickshire, The Coleshill School will receive £1.06 million to expand the school with a new classroom block to support the increased pupil rate, allowing for an additional 150 places across the school over the course of five years (30 per year). The new classroom block will be a three-storey building, with a ground floor dining facility and associated outdoor landscaping.

In South Leamington, plans for a new all through school will receive £100,000 from received developer contributions for a new standalone primary and secondary school provision to accommodate the increase in population, anticipated as a result of developments across the area. Warwickshire County Council is working with Warwick District Council to bring forward a suitable site that would allow for the provision of a new all-through school, providing opportunities to link with the proposed Country Park and provide community sports provision. The £100,000 will be used to support the outline planning application.

£400,000 has been earmarked to support the increased demand for SEND pupil provisions at schools across the county, for example to create a disabled toilet or ramp to ensure that mainstream schools are accessible for children with special educational needs. Again, this will enable many vulnerable young children to remain in Warwickshire to receive their education.

The funding allocated to this capital programme will put Warwickshire in a better position to address increased demand across the county, in particular the increase in the number of young people with Education, Health and Care Plans. A flexible allocation will allow modifications to existing schools so that they are fit for purpose and will enable as many of our children and young people as possible to be educated in their own schools and within Warwickshire.