News

Rushcliffe school’s expansion goes £1.6 million overbudget

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

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A Rushcliffe school’s expansion project has cost over £1.5 million more than originally expected – but the council says it has “absolute assurance” it will not increase further.

South Wolds Academy, in Keyworth, is currently being expanded to increase the available pupil places at the school from 170 up to 210.

The school previously grew in 2023 after one project delivered six new classrooms and a ‘technical’ teaching space.

In a July paper, Nottinghamshire County Council says its pupil place staff estimate a potential ‘significant deficit’ in pupil places in the South Wold’s planning area by 2029.

This is due to 4,000 new homes being planned on land at east Gamston and north of Tollerton meaning there has been an increase in school-aged children moving to the area, putting ‘significant pressure’ on pupil places.

But in May 2024, the further expansion project – which is currently taking place – was approved due to extra pupil spaces still being needed. The project started that summer and the council document says it is now ‘close to completion’.

But the scheme has cost an extra £1,677,076 more than the original grant funding agreement for the expansion, which was £3,321,389 – meaning the total cost for the works is just under £5 million.

The document states the most significant cost increases was an extra £100,000 in kitchen services and £200,000 in temporary classrooms.

The council says the cost increases are still “value for money” against the pupil places it provides and says “there is absolute assurance” the project’s total cost will not increase further due to the project being it the final “snagging” phase.

The council document says the total cost will be funded from the School Places Programme budget, with the council approving the increase of the grant funding agreement total.

The project will give the school two new classrooms, new extra changing facilities, reconfigure its existing dining and catering space, updated social spaces, a new play area, new IT and other updates.

The plans for the Gamston Fields development are the first phases of development for the wider 4000 homes, comprising of over 2,200 homes, primary schools, open spaces and sports pitches.