Purpose

On 11 December 2025, the DfE offered WBC a
choice to continue with DfE delivery of the two new Special free
Schools or accept a direct financial settlement (for one or both
schools). WBC needs to notify the DfE of its decision by 27
February 2026. The purpose of this report is to present an Options
Appraisal / Business Case for the preferred option, for
consideration by the Executive.

Content

RESOLVED
that the Executive
1) Noted the ‘Wokingham
Special Schools Business Case’ attached to this report as
Appendix I.
2) Granted authority to the
Director of Children’s Services to inform the DfE that the
Council wished to accept the funding on offer in relation to both
special free schools, amounting to £12,960,000 in
total.
3) Granted authority to the
Director of Children’s Services to enact the
capital
programme related to the
delivery of special school places, in accordance with this funding
provided by the DfE.
4) Noted this
£12,960,0000 is also mapped into the Capital Programme
and
Strategy Report and built into
the MTFP that forms part of the same agenda as this
report.