Rising inflation, Brexit and pandemic blamed as school expansion costs rocket by a quarter

A £1.2M rise in the cost of expanding a special school has been blamed on rising inflation and the impact of Brexit and covid. Rumworth Special School is expanding to be able to accept up to 400 pupils by 2026.

The school, based in Lostock, is classed as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, provides education for children in years 7 to 14. The school, on Armadale Road, teaches pupils who have learning difficulties, complex needs, autism, hearing impairment, visual impairment and physical disability.

It was previously expanded in 2018, which enabled the school to admit up 260 students. To support the physical expansion of the school, funding of £3.66M was approved by Bolton Council in October 2020.

However, since then those costs have now risen by around 25 per cent to £4.8M. A report to Bolton Council’s cabinet member for children’s services Anne Galloway, explained the increase in costs.

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It stated: “With the rise in inflation and the impact of Brexit and Covid, building and material costs nationally have significantly risen in the interim period. Additionally, the school requires a passenger lift rather than the platform lift that was included by the architects.

“To ensure that the development can provide this, and the 14 classrooms required, further funding is required to support the scheme.”

The new teaching block will provide the school with 14 new classrooms and resource space to support future needs.

Alongside the school’s existing accommodation it will enable them to admit a further 140 pupils. The new block is not expected to be delivered until autumn 2023 and in the meantime the school requires some temporary classrooms to meet their interim needs for September 2022.

Coun Galloway approved the increased budget figure of £4.8M of departmental capital funding to enable the creation of an additional 140 permanent special school places.

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