Major new primary school enters next phase of development

Milton Keynes City Council is preparing to appoint a contractor to design and build a new primary school in Whitehouse South.

The design phase will begin next month, with construction expected to start in June 2027. The new school remains on track to open in September 2028, providing up to 630 primary places, a 39-place nursery and dedicated provision for local children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

Following a competitive process involving local education leaders and the Department for Education, The Preston Hedges Trust has been selected to run the new school. The Trust, which already has a strong presence in Milton Keynes, will now work closely with the City Council and project partners to help shape the school's vision and prepare for its opening.

This will be the fifth and final school in this expanding area of the city, joining three existing primary schools and a secondary, Watling Academy - rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

In the past ten years, the City Council has created capacity for 13,409 new school places for local children, building seven new schools and helping 22 existing schools expand.

“This is an important milestone for the new primary school in Whitehouse South. With a contractor soon to be appointed and The Preston Hedges Trust selected to run the school, we can now move forward with confidence into the next stage of the project.

As Milton Keynes grows, it’s vital that local families continue to have access to high-quality school places close to home, and this new school will support the community for many years to come.”

The City Council is set to make a formal decision on 21 July to appoint a contractor to design and build the new school. This follows a competitive procurement process through a national Government framework, which enables local authorities to select experienced contractors while ensuring value for money.