Ten new schools, including two special schools, planned for Hampshire
£633 million investment aims to create over 3,400 school places
Ten new schools, including two special schools, are set to open in Hampshire over the next three years as part of a £633 million investment in the county’s educational facilities.
Hampshire County Council has proposed a significant capital programme for Children's Services projects, aiming to create over 3,400 new school places by 2029. The programme includes a total of over £428 million allocated to new schools.
Among the planned schools are Luminous Oak Academy, a special school opening in Boorley Green later this year, and Windmill Academy, another special school scheduled to open in Whiteley in 2029. Additionally, North Whiteley secondary school, the future site of Henry Cort Community College, is set to open in September 2027 with 900 places.
£25.2 million for additional specialist places
The programme also allocates £25.2 million for 25 projects that will create over 390 additional specialist places in existing schools. These include Resourced Provisions, which are specialist environments within mainstream schools, and two planned satellite sites.
Best Start Family Hubs
A new initiative in this year’s programme is the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs, aimed at improving outcomes for children and families by integrating health, education, and social care services. These hubs have been allocated over £644,000 for development.
Broader investment in community projects
Beyond schools, £75.8 million is assigned to social care projects, covering modifications to foster carers’ homes, equipment for children with disabilities, and other adaptations to support children living at home. The programme also includes funding for access improvements, modernisation projects, and early years settings across Hampshire.
The investment aligns with Hampshire County Council’s focus on sustainable growth in areas where demand is highest, while addressing challenges such as low birth rates in some parts of the county. According to Hampshire County Council, funding for many projects will be sought from external sources, including contributions from housing developers and central Government.
Following approval by Councillor Roz Chadd, Cabinet Lead Member for Children’s Services, the recommendations will be reviewed by the County Council’s Cabinet on 12th February. A final decision on Hampshire County Council’s overall budget for 2026/27 will be made by the full County Council on 26th February.