Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet has agreed a £2.21 million addition to the education capital programme for 2026/27 to deliver building works and specialist places across several local schools.
Where the money will go
The funding is earmarked for upgrades at three Southam schools and to expand specialist educational provision in Leamington. Most of the allocation will be used at Southam Primary School, with further sums for Southam College and Bishops Itchington Primary School. Separate funding will support the expansion of SEND resourced places at Briar Hill Infant School.
| School | Allocation | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Southam Primary School | £1.75m | New classrooms, intervention spaces, security and playground improvements |
| Southam College | £364,000 | Refurbishment of post-16 facilities, upgraded technology, SEND hub changes, outdoor learning |
| Bishops Itchington Primary School | £58,000 | Enhancement of outdoor play for Ladybirds pre-school (EYFS support) |
| Briar Hill Infant School | £34,000 | Internal alterations to expand SEND communication and interaction places from six to ten |
Funding sources and priorities
Council papers state the schemes for Southam and Bishops Itchington will be funded through developer contributions. The expansion of specialist places at Briar Hill is being met from the High Needs Capital Allocation. The projects are presented as measures to improve learning environments and ensure appropriate provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Council comment
“Ensuring Warwickshire children can access the right educational provision is a priority for this council. This investment will improve learning environments across these four schools and support them to meet the needs of their pupils and communities. I’m particularly pleased to see the expansion of specialist resourced provision at Briar Hill. With demand for SEND support continuing to grow, creating inclusive, purpose-built spaces within mainstream settings is vital to helping children and young people thrive and achieve their full potential.”
The comment was attributed to Cllr Wayne Briggs, the county council’s portfolio holder for children and families, education and SEND.
Local impact and next steps
The largest share — £1.75m — for Southam Primary will fund substantial site works including additional classrooms and intervention spaces intended to support pupil learning and school capacity. Southam College’s allocation aims to improve facilities for students aged 16 and over while enhancing SEND support within the college setting. At Bishops Itchington, the smaller sum will focus on outdoor play improvements to support the early years foundation stage curriculum.
- Works are scheduled under the 2026/27 education capital programme.
- Developer contributions will underwrite the Southam and Bishops Itchington schemes.
- High Needs Capital Allocation funds the Briar Hill expansion from six to ten resourced places for communication and interaction needs.
Council approval now allows officers and school leaders to progress design and delivery work. Timetables for construction or phased openings were not set out in the papers released alongside the cabinet decision. Parents and local residents seeking more detail on timescales or construction impacts should contact the relevant school or Warwickshire County Council’s education capital team.
The package forms part of wider efforts by the council to match school places and facilities to rising demand for SEND support and to maintain school infrastructure as housing and local development proceed across the county.
