North Northamptonshire Council has secured £4.7 million from the Department for Education to address the growing demand for school places across the region.
The funding will be distributed across four schools, aimed at increasing capacity for both general and special educational needs students. The largest allocation, £2.59 million, is designated for Prince William School in Oundle, where two blocks will be renovated to create 48 additional spaces for students with special educational needs. These facilities are expected to be ready by September.
Latimer Arts College in Kettering will receive £561,000 to expand its secondary school provision by 49 additional places across Years 7, 8, and 9, alongside improvements to its dining areas. Meanwhile, Alfred Lord Tennyson School in Rushden will use £925,000 to ensure its combined site, following a merger in 2023, is ready for full use by September 2025.
Additionally, Rowan Gate School, which currently occupies part of the former Tennyson Road Infants’ site, will be allocated £626,000 to fully renovate and take over the entire building, providing much-needed space for students with special educational needs. Work on this project is scheduled for the summer, with plans to accommodate more pupils by September.
The funding is part of a broader effort to meet local demand for school places, especially in secondary education and SEND services, and to ensure schools can support the region’s growing student population.
