£11.2m boost for city’s schools

Possibility of 300 extra special educational needs places

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCIL chiefs are set to approve £11.2 million of new capital spending on Stoke-on-Trent schools.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s updated schools capital programme includes £4.9 million of new special educational needs (SEN) schemes, which could create up to 300 extra places.

There is also £3.5 million to fund ‘hand back’ works not completed by PFI contractor Transform Schools Stoke Ltd, which cabinet members agreed to set aside earlier this year.

The new capital spending comes on top of £18.4 million of existing schemes which are due to be carried out in 2025/26. Council leaders are keen to expand local SEN provision in Stoke-on-Trent, so fewer children end up in costly private schools.

Many local authorities are currently overspending their dedicated schools grants due to rocketing SEN demand - the city council’s cumulative deficit is expected to rise to £38.8 million by the end of 2025/26.