Hampshire County Council to consider £221m education investment programme as part of 2023/24 budget
Ten new schools could be built in Hampshire as part of a £221m education investment programme that aims to generate more school places across the county.
The programme also includes a number of proposed school expansions, projects for special schools, early years settings and children’s social care as well as other improvements and modernisations across existing buildings.
In total, proposed new schools and expansions make up £175m of the total three-year programme.
These recommended projects would create a further 4,393 school places by 2026, contributing to a total of 18,876 new places since 2013.
Edward Heron, Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for children’s services, approved the capital programme of investment on Thursday, January 12.
He said: “Investing in schools and educational attainment is absolutely vital for the prosperity of individuals, local communities and our county as a whole.
“I am pleased that, despite the ongoing financial pressures facing local government, we are able to continue to present a proposed programme of carefully considered capital investment across Hampshire’s educational estate.
“The proposed capital programme includes plans for new schools linked to new housing developments, and a number of special school projects, to respond effectively to demand and ensure that sufficient school places remain available, in line with our statutory duties as a county council.
“As well as planning for new schools, the programme includes vital ongoing proposed investment to make sure that our existing schools and early years settings are maintained to the good standard that we expect for children in Hampshire.”
Places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are a key focus of the programme, with more than £9m earmarked for major SEND expansion schemes, which it is proposed would be delivered at seven schools by September 2024.
Additionally, two of the 10 planned new schools would be special schools, with each of the remaining schools considering resourced provision for SEND pupils where needed.
The rest of the funding would be used to improve disabled access to schools, provide equipment for disabled children and young people to support their independence at home, fund adaptations to foster carers’ properties and enhance early years provision.
Following Mr Heron’s approval, the programme will now be considered by the county council’s cabinet on February 7, before a final decision on the overall budget for 2023/24 is made on February 23.
