£1million to go towards expanding SEND school near Eccleshall
Staffordshire County Council is spending £1 million to help Walton Hall Academy expand its provision for older students
Last updated 11th Feb 2026
Staffordshire County Council is spending £1 million on expanding a special school based near Eccleshall.
The money, which is part of the council's budget proposals for 2026/27, will see an office in Stafford centre converted for students of Walton Hall Academy.
The SP2 building in Tipping Street will be converted into a school with:
- six classrooms with new furniture and IT equipment
- toilets
- a room for the school nurse
- two intervention rooms
- a reception area
- a kitchen and dining room
This will increase their capacity for supporting pupils, aged 16-19, with SEND.
Julie Wood, Principal of Walton Hall Academy, said: "This is an exciting development for our pupils and it will very exciting when it opens later this year.
"There are some advantages to having our school in a rural area, but also some challenges, such as no access to public transport, local amenities, and very limited opportunities for our learners to practice independent living skills within their local community.
"We have been looking for ways to improve our provision and offer our students more choices and experiences that will prepare them for adulthood. Our new base will enable us to provide our students with more opportunities to be part of the local community.”