The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, Councillor James Crocker, approved an expansion of educational provision at Outwoods Primary School in Atherstone and authorised a lease renewal for the Benn Education Centre in Rugby. These decisions aim to increase special educational needs places and provide alternative education facilities, respectively.

Addition to Education Capital Programme - Outwoods Primary School

Councillor James Crocker, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, approved the addition of a scheme to the capital programme for Outwoods Primary School¹ in Atherstone. This decision will see an investment of £0.345 million, funded by the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation and an external grant from the Department for Education. The project will replace an aging modular building with a new one, increasing the number of places available for pupils with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans from 8 to 16. This expansion is intended to meet the growing demand for such specialised provision in the Atherstone area, where 6% of primary school children with EHC plans currently attend independent special schools, a higher proportion than in other districts within Warwickshire. The Executive Director for Children and Young People, in consultation with Councillor Crocker, has been authorised to manage the procurement and contractual processes for the works.

Surrender and Re-grant of Leasehold Interest at the Benn Education Centre, Rugby

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property also authorised the surrender of the Council's existing leasehold interest and the re-grant of a new leasehold interest at the Benn Education Centre² in Rugby. This move is designed to facilitate the creation of new Alternative Provision³ (AP) places for primary-aged pupils in the Rugby area, addressing a current gap in local provision. The Benn Education Centre, a former school building owned by the Coventry Diocesan Board of Education, will be leased by Warwickshire County Council, which will then grant sub-leases to Barnardo's and Arise Education. Arise Education will use 36% of the building to deliver AP for up to 15 pupils, operating as a satellite site of their 'outstanding' OFSTED-rated school. This initiative is expected to support the Council's statutory duty to provide suitable education for excluded pupils and those with SEND, offer placements at a better value than independent providers, and reduce home-to-school transport costs by providing local education. The terms of the new lease, including rental payments and repair obligations, have been outlined, with the Council aiming to recover costs from Arise Education. The decision authorises the completion of these arrangements on terms acceptable to the Executive Director for Resources.