Woodlands Academy could close under plans to create a new super school in Coventry

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Plans proceed for Coventry special needs school to move to site of former academy



PROPOSALS to bring the site of a Coventry school closed in controversial circumstances back into use have moved a step closer.

Woodlands Academy boys’ school was merged with Tile Hill Wood Academy girls’ school in 2016 despite public protest and council criticism.

Falling intake and an arrangement to create a multi-academy trust to save both schools which fell through resulted in the effective closure of Woodlands Academy.

The council aims to use the now vacant Woodlands site as a new home for Woodfield School – one of the city’s schools for those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Plans were heard by councillors at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (October 30) and will go to a decision at a full council meeting in December.

The old Woodlands school grounds contain Grade II listed buildings which complicate any plans to rebuild the site, while it remains fit for purpose as a school.

The council is set to undertake a feasibility study to consider the site’s suitability and then seek planning consent to transform the old site into an education and community sports village.

A report considered by the Labour-controlled cabinet also outlines plans to approve the Woodfield Primary and Secondary school sites – on Hawthorn Road and Stoneleigh Road respectively – for residential use.

This would contribute to the costs of moving the schools to their new joint site.

Small scale housebuilding could also occur on the Woodlands site if necessary to finance the move.

The council estimates the cost of the project could be around £15million.

A full public consultation will also be undertaken, the council says, with parents and the local community to have their say on the move.

"public consultation"

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Empty Coventry school to get huge makeover so new school can move in



Coventry council will spend an extra £1.6 million on a project to do up an empty school so a new one can move in. It means Woodfield School will be able to move into the old Woodlands School site in Eastern Green which shut in 2017.

The school will take on more pupils, meaning fewer children will be forced to travel outside the city due to a lack of specialist places. But costs for the project have soared and councillors agreed extra funding today, 15 May.

As well as inflation, one reason for the higher costs is "complexities" with the design and refurbishment of the listed building. The building's protected status sparked questions at today's cabinet decision to agree the extra funds.

Local Cllr Gary Ridley, leader of the Conservative opposition at the authority, asked if the council can "push back" on the listed status and said these often cause problems around the city. Council director of property Richard Moon agreed that listing "makes life much more difficult than it otherwise would be."

Without this the council would likely have opted for a cheaper new build project for the school, he said. "I challenge anybody to walk around there on a cold February morning and liken it to the hanging gardens of Babylon," he added.

But Mr Moon said Historic England has allowed the council to demolish some of the school buildings and the groups have reached a compromise. He also said the organisation is "there to do a job" and they would argue that they are doing the right thing in preserving buildings for future generations.

"Is it ideal? Not in all circumstances no but it's an issue we just have to deal with," he added. Ten blocks built for the 1950s school are Grade II listed according to the Historic England website.

The listing made in the early 1990s describes the school as an "early purpose-built comprehensive" built with a steel frame and precast concrete panels. Changes to the council scheme for the site's refurbishment include replacing roofs, strengthening work and more fire protection measures.

The decision also means Woodfield School will avoid delays to converting to an academy which depends on progress with the project. The school is currently split across different locations and is the only specialist provider for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs in Coventry.

It is set to move to the site in Woodlands in late 2025. Other councillors at the meeting voiced their support for the plan.

Cabinet Member for children, Labour Cllr Patricia Seaman, said: "This is Coventry at its best, doing its best, listening to our families and making it happen."

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I challenge anybody to walk around there on a cold February morning and liken it to the hanging gardens of Babylon"