Enfield Council Approves £29.1M for School Improvements Focusing on Building Conditions, SEN and Decarbonisation

Enfield Council has approved £29.1 million for school improvements across the borough, focusing on building conditions, special educational needs (SEN) and decarbonisation.

The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, where councillors approved the updated Schools Capital Programme Strategic Delivery Plan 2025/26 - 2027/28, subject to call-in. The plan outlines a revised spend of £13.4m for the 2025/26 capital budget and a total commitment of £29.1m over the next three years, as detailed in the Public Reports Pack.

The approved plan addresses the council's responsibilities as a corporate landlord, ensuring the safety and well-being of pupils and staff through capital works that maintain and improve the school estate. It also aims to deliver the Council's Pupil Places Strategy, including additional SEN places, and contribute to the borough's carbon neutrality target by 2040.

Several schools across Enfield will benefit from this investment. Condition-related works, including window and door replacements, have already been completed at Highfield Primary School, Hazelwood Primary School, and Enfield County Upper School. The reconstruction of Chace Community School commenced in April 2025 and is progressing well. The new school building is scheduled for completion next summer and will be open to staff and pupils for the start of the new school year in September 2026. The new school will provide an energy-efficient learning environment, designed to achieve net zero carbon emissions with increased natural lighting and enhanced acoustics. Funding has also been secured through the SRP for Enfield Grammar School, St Ignatius College, Fleecefield Primary School, and St Anne's Catholic High School for Girls for redevelopment of their buildings.

Key elements of the approved plan include:

• Condition-related works: Continuing projects to address building conditions, with several projects already completed, including window and door replacements at Highfield Primary School, Hazelwood Primary School, and Enfield County Upper School.
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) pupil places: Acknowledging the increasing demand for SEN places, the plan includes a strategic delivery plan for SEN pupil places. The cabinet also approved feasibility studies for the Addison House project to deliver SEN satellite provision and to identify appropriate sites for large-scale SEN provision development.
• Decarbonisation and energy projects: Aligning with the Council's Climate Action Plan, the programme incorporates low-carbon solutions in all condition and maintenance projects.
• Caretaker houses disposal: Reinvesting income generated from the disposal of vacant caretaker houses back into the programme to support SEN provision and safeguarding works at school sites.

The Cabinet also delegated authority to the Executive Director of People to award contracts up to £5m and to add or omit projects from contingency budgets, and to the Lead Member for Children's Services to approve contracts exceeding £5m, according to the Decisions 10th-Dec-2025 Cabinet document.

The updated Schools Capital Programme takes into account the potential impact of the forthcoming Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which may allow councils to propose new schools, including those for SEN pupils. The bill aligns with the government's inclusion agenda, offering councils more flexibility to respond to rising Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) demand.