An update on the long-delayed plans for St John's Primary School in Kenilworth:
These £6 million works were meant to have been completed by the previous administration at Warwickshire County Council (WCC) by September 2024. Since the May 2025 elections we’ve been pushing the new administration and at last, after much chasing, we can confirm the current position.
Zone A - three new rooms will be built adjacent to the upper playground/Key Stage 2 (KS2) end of the school using Permitted Development (PD) rights. This requires the WCC Planning Department to issue a Certificate of Lawfulness, for which an application has now been submitted. We’re told that it will take six-eight weeks for this application to be processed, so it should be available by 31st August. We’ll be chasing!
The good news is that this work will enable the school to receive up to 14 children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs compared to the current maximum of three children. For families living with children with these needs these new local facilities, delayed by the current and previous administrations, will be vital. The PD rights building work will include provision of a new KS2 library and toilets.
But, sadly, this work will NOT the new playground as originally planned for pupils with SEMH needs. Nor will it include, as originally planned, a new drop-off/collection point off Roseland Road, nor a new zebra crossing on Mortimer Road. We’re also pushing for the PD building works to include solar panels on the roof.
WCC has confirmed that it has asked its original contractor to retender for the PD works in an acceptable way so that building can start before October 2026 and be complete and operational by 31st August 2027.
Zones B and C – WCC has confirmed that plans for these new extra classrooms also at the KS2 end of the school are now paused indefinitely. The reason given is the falling birth rate, although we have challenged what school sufficiency plans are in place if, even though it would not be welcome, new housing development take place in the St John’s area.
Special Resource Provision works – these works outside the old library in the quad area will create a much needed play area for children with SEMH needs and also more storage facilities and an office for the school’s Business Manager. It is planned that this work will take place in August 2026 to be ready for the 2026/27 academic year.
Mortimer Road road markings – in response to our chasing, WCC Highways Team has confirmed that the faded yellow zigzag markings outside the school will be repainted in August 2026. This should help improve safety outside the school.
Whilst not all of the above is good news, WCC has confirmed that none of the above works needs to be approved by the Administration’s Portfolio Holder. This helps to avoid yet another reason for delay in delivering these new facilities.
Throughout all the delays since 2024 the staff at the school have continued brilliantly to support pupils.
For the school staff, for families living with children with special needs and for local children and for local residents we shall continue to push the County Council administration and its education, highways and planning staff to bring these long-delayed building works to fruition.