July 30, 2020, Reading Chronicle: Special school move to east Reading to cost extra £600k as plans move forward https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/18617458.special-school-move-east-reading-cost-extra-600k-plans-move-forward/
A special school’s move to east Reading will cost an extra £600,000 [$784K U.S.] than first anticipated….
Reading Borough Council (RBC) approved the plans in April, with an estimated cost £8.1 million to build.
But the costs have now gone up to around £8.9 million,[$12M] due to the chosen contractor’s estimates being higher than anticipated.
The Department for Education (DfE) had handed out £6.3million in grant funding to the council for the school, with RBC adding £1.8million out of its own capital budget towards the new school.
The DfE’s Special Provisions Fund Grant will pay the extra £600,000 needed to build the school.
Hamilton School is a special needs school specialising in the education of secondary-aged children with Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) issues, and who cannot attend mainstream schools….
The vacant Hamilton Centre building, located near to three other schools, will be refurbished and extended to accommodate 64 students and could later be expanded to 90, with female pupils joining the current-all male college….
