Council leaders have agreed to spend £36 million on improving schools across Stoke-on-Trent this year.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's schools capital programme for 2026/27 is mainly focused on expanding provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as addressing condition issues and creating new places to meet demand.

Cabinet members at the authority say the planned works will mean more children will be able to access the specialist education they need closer to where they live.

The updated capital programme includes £16.45 million of new schemes at schools across the city, along with £19.56 million for previously announced projects.

According to the report to cabinet, while previous spending focused on expanding secondary schools to address a 'demographic bulge', council chiefs believe that year seven intake peaked last year.

This means that the attention has now shifted to increase SEND provision, with the priority being to expand specialist support at mainstream schools.

Funding for the capital programme will come from government grants, council funds and section 106 contributions from housing developers.

Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services, told a cabinet meeting that the planned spending would be an investment in Stoke-on-Trent's children.

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She said: "This programme represents a significant investment in our city's future. It will expand SEND provision, improve accessibility, modernise schools facilities and ensure more children can receive the support they need closer to home.

"It will also allow us to maintain and improve our school estate so that children can learn in safe, high quality environments. Every improvement we make today is an investment in the next generation. Better schools create better opportunities, support inclusion and help every child to achieve their potential."

A major expansion of The Willows Primary School in Penkhull is due for completion this year. The single biggest new scheme on the 2026/27 capital programme will see £3 million spent on bringing parts of the adjoining Mount building back into use.

According to the report, this scheme will be 'sympathetic to the heritage requirements' of the building, and will be subject to a survey to ensure full cost assurance prior to commencement.

Another major scheme will see £1.5 million spent on creating new post-16 high needs places at Fenton Manor Leisure Centre.

New schemes in the schools capital programme 2026/27:

• Weston Infant Academy – adaptations – £23,000
• Weston Junior Academy – adaptations – £73,000
• Excel Academy – repurpose of former swimming pool – £250,000
• Sneyd Academy – building remodel – £250,000
• Gladstone Primary Academy – development of resource provision – £75,000
• Willows Primary School – development of resource provision using unoccupied space in neighbouring Mount building – £3 million
• Resource provision at primary school (to be confirmed) – £250,000
• Resource provision at three secondary schools (to be confirmed) – £4.5 million
• Creation of additional post-16 high needs places using underutilised space at Fenton Manor – £1.5 million
• Creation of additional complex post-16 high needs places at Tunstall Adult Learning Centre – £150,000
• Scheme to develop alternative provision places – £2 million
• Trentham Academy – disability access – £93,211
• In-year reserve for disability access – £150,000
• The Mount – scheme to bring office space back into use for local authority schemes consistent with the running of the neighbouring school – £1.25 million
• Hillside Primary – kitchen floor replacements – £22,212
• Development of provision in support of SEND, social care and school residential – £1 million
• Reserve to respond to obligations in relation to maintained schools – £1 million
• Contingency for emergency works – £863,857