Four major projects aimed at improving education provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Hertfordshire are at risk of being delayed unless further funding is approved, councillors have been told.
The schemes include relocating Breakspeare School to Croxley Green, creating a new satellite site for the Collett School in Hemel Hempstead, constructing the planned Journey’s End School in Potters Bar, and relocating the North Herts Education Support Centre in Letchworth Garden City.
Hertfordshire County Council has already allocated over £50 million to the projects. However, a report presented to the council’s education, SEND and inclusion cabinet panel warned that without additional investment, the schemes “will not be deliverable.” The shortfall, it stated, would worsen the current lack of special school places across the county.
On Wednesday 9 July, the panel backed proposals to provide more funding—but the exact figures remain confidential. Discussions on the financial details of each scheme were held in private.
A spokesperson for the council said it would not “be prudent” to share the costs publicly as doing so could undermine future contract negotiations.
They said: “Members of the Education, SEND and Inclusion panel heard details of costs relating to four projects to expand SEND provision in schools across the county.
“Financial aspects of these projects were presented in a closed session known as Part II, as commercially sensitive information was disclosed.
“It would not be prudent to place these costs into the public domain as to do so would hamper our ability to secure the best value for taxpayers when negotiating contracts both now and in the future.”
A report published ahead of the meeting pointed to rising construction costs—driven by inflation and market pressures—alongside specific site challenges.
At the Croxley Green site, intended for the expanded Breakspeare School, surveys uncovered “chalk dissolution” underground, requiring changes to the foundation and drainage systems. Additional consultancy fees, biodiversity net gain requirements and increased construction costs were also cited.
The relocation is expected to raise Breakspeare’s capacity from 97 to 210 places. The school caters to children with severe and complex learning difficulties. Over 200 children are currently waiting for a suitable place, according to the council.
The Breakspeare project was first approved in February 2022, with increased funding added in March 2024.
Journey’s Academy in Potters Bar—a 60-place school for children with autism and communication needs—is another major scheme. Originally approved in December 2020 and to be run by the Agora Trust, its costs have risen due to delays linked to Green Belt restrictions. These include the need for a new substation, attenuation pond, and ground remediation works.
In Letchworth Garden City, the council plans to bring the North Herts Education Support Centre—currently split across two campuses—onto one site at Briar Patch Lane. Although initial approval was given in 2021, with further funding added in 2024, more investment is now required due to design changes and the need for an upgraded access road.
Meanwhile, the Collett School in Hemel Hempstead is set to gain a new satellite site by converting the former Laureate Academy’s sixth form building. The project, which aims to create 50 more SEND places, was initially based on rough estimates without detailed surveys. Later assessments revealed significant condition and compliance issues, worsened by vandalism and the building’s long-term disuse.
During the public part of the cabinet panel meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Lloyd, who represents Croxley, said there needed to be better scrutiny of the Breakspeare relocation process.
He said: “There is a desperate need for these places, but if we had done more work initially before it even came to this committee – and before a planning application was made – we may have chosen a different location.
“I fully appreciate that to change a location now has a lot of unknown risks, but I think we do need to learn from this particular project in how we manage projects within Hertfordshire.”
While the panel backed the proposals to increase funding, several councillors abstained from the vote.
Following the meeting, executive member for education, SEND and inclusion, Cllr Mark Watkin, said: “These schemes that will expand the provision of school places for children with SEND in Hertfordshire are desperately needed.
“We wholly endorse this expansion programme and, following the decision to grant planning approval, we are pleased to recommend to the cabinet that it approves the investment needed to deliver more places for children in west Hertfordshire with severe learning difficulties through the Breakspeare school expansion.
“We are committed to delivering large special school expansion projects, such as Breakspeare, while also exploring innovative solutions to meet increasing needs sooner, including satellite provision, specialist resource provisions (SRPs) and units attached to mainstream schools.
“We want all children in Hertfordshire to get the support they need, when they need it, to access their education in a school close to their home, and we are committed to investing in education in Hertfordshire to make this a reality.”
A final decision on the funding is expected at a cabinet meeting on 21 July.
Deborah is a Local Democracy Reporter covering news across Hertfordshire, with a strong focus on councils, local government and public policy. Her reporting includes county council decisions, council tax, spending pressures, legal and regulatory issues, healthcare stories including junior doctors, and community projects affecting local residents.
