The Khalsa Academy in Bilston, Wolverhampton, plans to undergo a significant expansion, investing over £3 million to accommodate an additional 150 pupils and create a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) unit. This initiative responds to the growing demand for educational places, particularly for students with specific needs. The expansion includes remodeling the school's dining room and refurbishing floors to create new spaces for sixth formers and administration. The SEND unit will specifically support pupils with speech, language, and communication needs, with 10 initial places increasing to 20 in the following year. The demand for specialist school places in Wolverhampton has risen sharply, with the number of pupils with education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) increasing by more than 50% over the last five years, from 2,185 in 2021 to 3,352 in 2026. This expansion is crucial as the local council struggles to meet the rising need for school places, often resorting to placing children in independent provisions at a high cost, averaging around £76,000 per child annually.