More than £6.5m invested in school improvements across St Helens
St Helens Borough Council has committed more than £6.5m to school improvements for 2026/2027 as part of a commitment to ensure every child and young person has a positive start in life.
Article date: 18 March 2026
Funded through a number of streams - including the School Condition Grant, Early Years Grant and High Needs Provision Capital Allocation - the programme will deliver upgrades across 27 local authority-maintained primary and special educational needs settings, with work ranging from essential improvements such as new windows and heating systems to significant expansions of SEND provision.
In December 2025, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet approved a £1.6m investment from the Department for Education to extend Broad Oak Primary School in Parr, creating a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resource base. The project will deliver four new classrooms, providing an additional 20 places for pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Meanwhile, work continues on the expansion of Mill Green School, with a renovation of the former Parr Library building increasing overall capacity to 190 pupils once complete.
These projects form part of the council's wider SEND Strategy to deliver high‑quality, cost‑effective local provision. Alongside the Broad Oak and Mill Green expansions, additional SEND capacity is being developed at Thatto Heath Primary School, and the council has completed the conversion of the former Fourways Children's Centre in Clock Face. Now named The Orchard, the site provides 32 specialist places for primary-aged children with autism spectrum condition (ASC) and operates as part of Rectory Primary School.
Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:
"This significant investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring every child and young person in St Helens has the best possible start in life. By improving school buildings, expanding specialist provision, and creating high‑quality learning environments, we are supporting pupils to thrive both now and in the future.
"These upgrades will make a real difference to day‑to‑day experiences in our schools - from warmer, more energy‑efficient classrooms to expanded SEND facilities that provide the tailored support our children and young people deserve.
"We are proud to work closely with our schools to deliver these improvements, and this investment reflects our long‑term ambition to give every child the opportunities they need to reach their full potential."