Schools Capital Delivery

About the Schools Capital Delivery team

The Schools Capital Delivery team plans and manages construction and maintenance projects for the council’s community and foundation schools (also known as local authority maintained schools).

Annual Schools Capital Programme

The annual Schools Capital Programme (PDF, 270.71 KB) outlines a series of capital projects for community schools, funded by the Department for Education (DfE).

Responsibilities

The team is responsible for asset management planning of community schools, making sure that learning environments are sustainable and adaptable to future educational needs and technological advancements. Their proactive approach helps to minimise disruptions, extend the lifespan of facilities, and maintain health and safety standards.

Collaboration

The team works closely with other council departments to support schools and students by providing high-quality services and fostering strong partnerships within the education community.

Services provided

Planning and developing the Schools Capital Programme for community schools
Collaborating with the school community to inform, develop, and deliver the capital programme
Managing, monitoring, and reporting on all aspects of the capital grant funding received by the council
Seeking and applying for external funding opportunities to support the strategic priorities of the Schools Capital Programme
Working with internal and external stakeholders (including the DfE), to make sure the Schools Capital Programme aligns with the pupil place planning strategy

The Schools Capital Programme is developed around 4 key strategic objectives, details of which can be found on the pages to the left.

For general enquiries, email esrp@enfield.gov.uk.

Strategic objective 1: Condition-related works

The council is responsible for maintaining the condition of community and foundation schools. Some of the funding is given directly to schools for smaller projects. The main program focuses on larger projects related to the building structure, fabric, and services. Condition surveys are conducted to assess the state of the buildings, and priorities are set in collaboration with the schools, considering their knowledge and experience.

Here are some recent and ongoing projects:

The Department for Education Schools Rebuilding Programme is also addressing the condition of schools. 3 schools in Enfield are part of this program:

Additionally, due to concerns about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), it has been removed from the following schools:

Winchmore School (PDF, 313.72 KB)
Ark John Keats Academy
St Ignatius College

Strategic objective 2: SEN development

There is a high demand for special educational needs (SEN) places in Enfield, and currently, there are not enough available. This shortage affects parents and children looking for suitable local school placements and increases the council's costs for out-of-borough placements and additional transport.

The team has been working closely with SEN colleagues and local schools to create more SEN places. Here are some of the projects:

Fern House School: A new building providing 72 places for students with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
Winchmore Secondary School (PDF, 211.42 KB): A new sixth form block with a SEN unit offering 20 places for students with complex learning needs.
West Lea School Horizon Campus: 100 SEN places for students with complex learning needs.
Oaktree School: Remodelling and extensions to add 33 places for students with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
West Lea at Laurel Park School: Improved and accessible SEN facilities through extension and remodelling.
The Meadows: A proposed new free school providing 96 places for primary pupils with autism and complex needs. This project is part of the DfE SEN Wave 3 Programme. For more information, visit GOV.UK - Local authority applications to open a special free school: waves 3 and 4.
Addison House: Proposed redevelopment as a satellite school for 48 secondary places (ages 11 to 17) for pupils with autism and complex needs. This project is part of the DfE SEN Wave 3 Programme. For more information, visit GOV.UK - Local authority applications to open a special free school: waves 3 and 4.
Waverley Special School: Improvements to Sensory Garden (PDF, 668.59 KB) and Sensory Room (PDF, 503.08 KB).

Additionally, extra support is being added in some mainstream schools by creating Additional and Specialist Resourced Provision (ARPS and SRPs) and Units (PDF, 186.05 KB). These are special teaching areas and other spaces designed to support SEN pupils within a mainstream setting. This initiative is funded by selling surplus site manager’s houses.

This initiative has included the creation of additional SEN places at Suffolks Primary School (PDF, 323.5 KB) – funded through the SRP scheme. This will create an additional 20 places from Autumn 2025 and a further 20 from 2026.

The Pupil Place Strategy will further assess the availability of spaces in all schools and aim to strengthen education provision in the Borough. This will help identify future opportunities to optimise the use of school sites for education and community purposes.

Strategic objective 3: Decarbonisation and energy projects

Condition surveys help identify ways to improve thermal efficiency in schools. These projects are the first step towards decarbonisation, improving teaching environments, and reducing heat loss and gain. Some examples of these improvements include:

replacing windows and doors with more efficient double-glazed units
upgrading cladding with better insulation
replacing flat roofing with improved insulation
installing new, more efficient gas boilers where non-gas options are not feasible
replacing lighting with LED fittings

After improving the building fabric, the next priority is to replace old gas boilers with greener alternatives where possible. This might involve installing new radiators and pipework that operate at lower temperatures, suitable for air source heat pumps (ASHP), ground source heat pumps (GSHP), and future heat network connections provided by Energetik.

The team is working with internal departments to apply for external funding to support these initiatives. Some of the funding sources include:

Low Carbon Skills Fund: Funding secured to develop decarbonisation plans for seven schools
Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme: Bids made to add nine schools to the Energetik Heat Network
GLA's Zero Carbon Accelerator: Funding approved to provide consultancy support for developing solar and heat projects in schools
Greener Schools Fund: Enfield Council has been awarded just over £87K to help install key energy-saving measures – find out more information

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to make schools more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Strategic Objective 4: Caretaker houses disposal

Enfield Council is committed to optimising resources for the benefit of the community. As part of this initiative, the council has adopted a policy of employing non-residential school site managers. As current residential staff retire or move away, this strategic move allows the council to repurpose and manage vacant houses effectively.

To date, this policy has yielded significant benefits. 2 houses have been refurbished to serve as residential children’s homes – providing a safe and nurturing environment for young residents. Additionally, 5 houses have been successfully sold – increasing available homes for families within the borough.

Following the necessary Secretary of State approval, the proceeds from these sales are being reinvested into Enfield’s School’s Capital Programme. This will enhance and expand special educational needs provision across the borough. This will also make sure our schools are well-equipped to support every child's educational journey.

Looking ahead, the council is set to deliver further progress with 4 more houses scheduled for disposal in 2025/26. 2 properties are already under offer, and the remaining 2 will soon be marketed. This proactive approach reinforces the council’s commitment to enhancing facilities and services for all Enfield residents.