In a meeting on Friday, 13 June 2025, Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, agreed to commence a consultation regarding the expansion of The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College in Rugby. The consultation will address a proposed increase of 300 places and the establishment of Specialist Resourced Provision at the school.

Expansion of The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College

Councillor Wayne Briggs agreed to the commencement of a consultation regarding the expansion of The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College, Rugby, in line with statutory requirements. The consultation will address a proposed increase of 300 places and the establishment of Specialist Resourced Provision at the school.

The decision was made in response to housing growth in Rugby, which has led to increased demand for school places. According to the Public reports pack, in recent years, schools in Rugby have had to provide 60-90 additional places each year above their published admission number to accommodate all students. The expansion of The Avon Valley School aims to provide a permanent solution to increase capacity in the north of Rugby, as it is the only school in that area.

The proposal includes increasing the school's capacity by 60 places per year group, from 220 to 280 places. Additionally, a 20-place specialist resourced provision for pupils with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) with Communication and Interaction needs will be established. This aligns with the council's Delivering Better Value programme and the SEND and Inclusion Strategy, which prioritises increasing specialist resourced provision places across the county.

The consultation is scheduled to take place between 23 June and 20 July 2025. Parents, other schools, and stakeholders will be notified of the proposal, and information will be available on the Warwickshire County Council consultation platform, Ask Warwickshire. If the proposal proceeds, capital works are planned to ensure additional accommodation is ready by September 2027.

Financial and Environmental Implications

The consultation itself will not incur additional costs for the local authority. However, if the expansion proceeds, capital costs will be necessary to provide additional teaching and ancillary space. These costs will be funded through developer contributions and Education Capital Investment Funding. Initial assessments suggest that the works will include a new extension and internal remodelling of the existing school building.

The council aims to minimise environmental impact during any capital works by utilising the existing structure where possible and using sustainable materials. The expansion is also expected to have a positive environmental impact by reducing journey times for students, encouraging active travel, and limiting the need to access places in neighbouring areas, which would increase transport requirements.