Plans are underway to invest over £3 million in expanding The Khalsa Academy in Bilston, Wolverhampton, responding to an urgent need for more school places and specialist support. The expansion will create 150 additional pupil places, 30 new sixth form spots, and a new 20-place SEND unit focused on pupils with speech, language, and communication needs.
The extensive project includes remodeling and refurbishing all floors of the school, enlarging the dining area, and converting a separate Department for Education-leased building. This new space will be dedicated to sixth form students, the SEND unit, and administrative offices, freeing up room within the main school for the growing student body. Due to the presence of extensive mineshafts in the area, expanding the existing building was not feasible, making the leased facility a crucial part of the upgrade.
Starting from September 2027, the school will introduce an additional 30 Year 7 pupils, ramping up to a permanent increase of 150 places by 2031. Also, a “bulge class” of 30 Year 7 students will begin this September to boost capacity in the short term.
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ONE Multi Academies Trust, which operates the school, emphasized that the new SEND unit will initially offer 10 places, expanding to 20 the following year, catering specifically to pupils with speech, language, and communication needs.
Wolverhampton council highlighted the sharp rise in demand for specialist education places, with the number of pupils holding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) jumping over 50% in five years—from 2,185 in 2021 to a projected 3,352 in 2026. The most common needs include autism spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health challenges—all experiencing year-on-year growth.
In particular, pupils requiring speech, language, and communication support increased from 714 in February 2025 to 809 this year, representing a 13% increase. The council acknowledged that demand for specialist places is outpacing availability, forcing many children to be placed in costly independent settings both inside and outside Wolverhampton, with average annual costs nearing £76,000 per child.
Enrollment figures reveal significant growth in younger cohorts too. Year 7 groups starting secondary school in 2026 have grown by more than 390 pupils compared to their primary school numbers in 2019, surpassing the average growth of 300 pupils. Similarly, the Year 5 cohort has increased by 415 pupils.
Other year groups have also expanded rapidly: Year 2 classes have grown by almost nine classes in three years, and Year 1 groups have increased by more than six classes in just two years. Key Stage 2 classes—Years 3 through 6—have also risen beyond historical averages, with Years 4, 5, and 6 showing growth equivalent to nearly or more than 13 full classes over seven years.
This substantial investment at The Khalsa Academy aims to address the burgeoning demand for school places and specialist support services in Wolverhampton, providing more local opportunities for pupils and reducing the reliance on external placements.