Wokingham

Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive will be asked next week at its meeting on January 26 to consider increasing the budget for the relocation and redevelopment of Addington Special School.

An additional £2.45million is needed to resolve issues that have arisen since Wokingham council made its original funding bid to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in 2003.

“The main reason for the relocation and rebuild of Addington Special School is that the current accommodation is no longer fit for purpose and, despite excellent OFSTED inspection reports, seriously impacts on the ability of the school to deliver its curriculum plan to its 200 pupils,” said Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for children’s services.

“That’s why, despite these difficulties and the extra cost, the council remains committed to this flagship project that will improve the educational chances for some of the most vulnerable children in our society.”

The original funding bid for some £5million was submitted to the DfES in autumn 2003 to replace the school with a new building. This was the maximum amount allowed at the time, with Wokingham council required to contribute £1.33million in addition to this. And, while the bid was well received then, there were factors within it - not then identified - that now pose a significant risk to the successful completion of the project.

The bid said that the new school would reduce its pupil numbers (198 at the time of the bid) to 60%, with the remaining 40% of pupils being located in ‘satellite classes linked to mainstream primary and secondary schools’. However, the current headteacher and the council are firmly of the opinion that this element of the bid would not best meet the needs of the pupils served by the school. In addition, the bid did not allow for the full present day costs of rebuilding the school. And recent guidance from the DfES has significantly increased the space requirements for special schools.

Together, these factors mean that the Wokingham project is unachievable within the original budget of £6.33million. And to resolve these issues, the council’s ten-strong executive will be asked to approve a phased development that would bring the total cost of the new school to some £11.44million.

Phase One (2006-2008):
To build a brand new school to house the core facilities of the school at an additional cost of some £2.45million. In addition to classrooms, gymnasium and hydrotherapy pool, these would include specialist art, science, ICT, music, drama and physical education facilities as well as SEN (special education needs) facilities such as sensory suite, soft play area and physiotherapy, speech and language and medical areas. Some 30 primary pupils and 35 further education pupils would, however, need be accommodated in the school’s relocated modular classrooms until Phase Two is completed.

Phase Two (under way 2008-2013):
This aims to complete the school by replacing the temporary accommodation with permanent facilities. Work would start on Phase Two within a five year period from the opening of the new school (2008-2013). And the additional cost would be £2.66million, which the council would seek to obtain from the DfES under its Building Schools for the Future scheme. If unsuccessful, the council would provide the funding from its own resources.

Wokingham Cllr Frank Browne said: “I can confirm that if the extra funding is agreed on January 26, the brand new school built in Phase One will be bigger than the current Addington complex and will offer improved specialist and SEN facilities. There will be more space and everything will be on one site, close to The Bulmershe Secondary School and other facilities in the Woodley area. We will also seek to enhance Addington’s specialist music status not only for pupils but for the wider community.”

Headteacher Liz Meek said: “We have worked hard with the district council to get the best possible deal for the children in our care. The council fully supports our vision to become a centre of excellence but we have to accept that it may take longer to fully realise.”

Addington’s vice chairman of Governors Nick Dyer said: “I’m very excited at the prospect of having a new school. It will be a big step forward in providing the best possible environment for our pupils. The phasing of the project is a pragmatic way of achieving our vision.”

A newsletter will be sent to school staff and parents of both Addington and The Bulmershe schools this Friday (January 20), to ensure they are kept up-to-date on this major project to relocate and rebuild Addington Special School.

“A key aspect of this important project is keeping our key stakeholders as informed as possible,” said Cllr Browne. “And if executive give the proposals the green light next week, local people will have further opportunities to have their say as the project moves through the detailed design stage which will go through the normal planning consent process.”

Wokingham District Council