St Edmund Campion Catholic School in Erdington, Birmingham, is preparing for a significant expansion, increasing its capacity from 186 to 216 pupils per year group. This expansion will provide an additional 150 places overall, addressing the growing demand for school places in the area. The Birmingham City Council's cabinet has approved project costs for the extension works, totaling £4,025,612. The funding comes from a Basic Needs grant, aimed at supporting the necessary infrastructure enhancements.
The council's cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families, Mick Brown, announced the approval of the full business case and grant for the project. The grant, subject to confirmation from the Department for Education's Regions Group, will fund the extension works at St Edmund Campion Catholic School. The school awaits final approval on the increase in pupil numbers from the same department.
A report highlighted the challenges faced by the school in undertaking this expansion without significant funding.
"The school does not have significant funding for this work and is proposing to take on additional pupils at the request of Birmingham City Council," – Report
The report further clarified that any potential cost overruns during the project would not fall on the school's shoulders.
"Any cost overruns, should they occur, will not be the responsibility of the school, as this is a Basic Needs project required by the council to provide additional pupil places," – Report
"Should it become apparent during the project that an overspend is likely to occur, a request for additional capital funding from the Basic Needs grant would need to be made." – Report
The expansion project is part of a broader strategy to address the ongoing need for more school places in Birmingham, particularly in the northern region of the city.
"Our forecasts [for the north of the city] indicate an ongoing increase in demand and an ongoing sufficiency need for these places at St Edmund Campion," – Report
"We need to continue to explore more schemes to ensure permanent places." – Report
