Nottingham City Council has allocated £244,650 of High Needs capital funding to Denewood Academy.
The funding aims to improve the school’s facilities and increase its capacity by 8 places.
The Academy offers full-time education for permanently excluded young people aged between 7-14 years old from mainstream schools. They currently have over 80 on roll at the Academy, with 42 pupils being educated at the onsite provision.
The decision comes as a response to the rising rates of permanent exclusions in Nottingham schools, particularly in Key Stage 2.
The Decision in Detail
The decision was taken by Catherine Underwood, Corporate Director for People, and is part of the council’s broader strategy to address educational challenges in the city. The funding will be sourced from the High Needs Capital funding, which the council is currently in receipt of.
Why Denewood Academy?
Denewood Academy plays a crucial role in the city’s educational landscape, providing education to pupils who have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools in key stages 2 and 3. The academy currently has approximately 102 pupils on roll, with 42 educated on-site and the rest through outsourced provision. The decision to allocate funds to Denewood comes as the academy is at full capacity, and there is a pressing need for additional places.
The Allocation Breakdown
The estimated cost of £244,650 includes a 10% contingency and will be used for various projects:
- Priority 1: £74,150 will be used to improve life skills provision and accredited qualifications by enhancing the cooking curriculum and expanding the dining room.
- Priority 2: £60,500 will be allocated for a new outdoor learning area for primary-aged pupils.
- Priority 3: £110,000 will be used to install outdoor equipment to improve physical education and fitness at the academy.
Legal and Financial Implications
The funding will be released only after a legal agreement is signed between the Local Authority and Raleigh Education Trust, ensuring that the project fulfils its intended purpose. Any additional costs exceeding £244,650 will be funded by the Raleigh Education Trust.
Future Outlook
The decision is a short-term measure while the council awaits the outcome of the Alternative Provision (AP) Commissioning Review and a new AP Free School bid to the Department for Education (DfE). If successful, this bid could add 100 additional AP places in the city.
