HUNDREDS of new school places will be available in Warwickshire under a £40million plan unveiled by Warwickshire County Council (WCC).
The council’s cabinet has agreed a series of additions to its Education Capital Programme for 2025-26, paving the way for hundreds of new school places, improvements to facilities, and expanded provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The plans come in response to recent population growth and the impact of new housing developments across the county.
Among the proposals is a £31million expansion of Avon Valley School in Rugby, which will provide 300 additional secondary places, a new sports hall, further curriculum space and 20 new specialist resourced SEND places.
Whitestone Infant School in Nuneaton will expand from three to four forms of entry (270 to 360 pupils) with a new classroom block and improvements to teaching and hall space, costing £5.5million.
Chetwynd Junior School in Nuneaton will expand from three to four forms of entry (360 to 480 places), including additional classroom space and internal improvements, at a cost of £3.2million.
A £155,000 investment will fund the amalgamation of Henry Hinde Infant School and Henry Hinde Junior School in Rugby.
New specialist SEND resource provision will be funded at Holy Trinity CofE Primary School in Stratford, costing £60,000, and Race Leys Infant School in Bedworth, totalling £68,000.
And Atherstone Nursery School will increase early years capacity through £78,000 of DfE Childcare Expansion Grant funding.
Much of the investment will be funded by developer contributions secured through Section 106 agreements, alongside Basic Need funding, High Needs capital, and the Council’s Capital Investment Fund.
WCC education spokesman Coun Wayne Briggs said: “These schemes will create the right capacity in the right locations as our communities grow, while also expanding specialist resourced provision to offer more support for children with SEND.
“This investment continues the significant progress made over recent years to grow and strengthen education provision across the county.”
Finance and property spokesman Coun Stephen Shaw said the proposals were a ‘sound and strategic’ investment in Warwickshire’s future.
He added: “We are making prudent use of developer contributions and education capital funding, while managing the financial risks associated with forward-funding where required.”
Warwickshire’s school-age population has grown in the past decade, with 15 new schools opened since 2015. Forecasts indicate continued growth linked to large-scale housing developments – particularly in Rugby, Nuneaton, Bedworth, and surrounding areas.
Demand for specialist SEND provision has also risen, with the number of pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans increasing by nine per cent annually over the past five years.
