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Work starts on new North London SEND school

Work has begun on a new £22m ‘ultra-sustainable’ special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in North London as demand for places in the borough has soared over the past decade.

The site will provide an additional 150 places in Brent to help prevent children having to be sent to schools outside of the borough.

Brent Council has appointed construction company REDS10 to build Wembley Manor School on London Road, which is expected to open its doors to pupils in September next year. The ‘state-of-the-art’ specialist school has been specifically designed for neurodivergent children.

Part of Brent’s SEND capital investment programme, Wembley Manor School is expected to deliver over 400 SEND places across the borough by 2025. It aims to reduce the need to send children to schools outside of the borough and the council expects to save up to £6m a year against the Dedicated School Grant.

The number of pupils in Brent who have special educational, health, and social care plans (EHCP) has risen by almost 15 per cent since 2020, compared with just over 10 per cent nationally. With this expected to continue rising over the next few years, there is a need to create more spaces in the borough.

Due to the lack of available places in the borough, there were 576 children and young people educated outside of Brent in 2021, with 180 in independent special schools, costing £7.2 million a year.

In the same year, there were 2,784 children and young people in Brent with EHCPs, which includes under fives up to those aged 25. By 2027, this number is expected to rise to 4,932, according to a government survey. This increase will have a significant impact on the demand for SEND school places.

Designed to be BREEAM Outstanding – the highest sustainability rating – the school will provide SEND teaching spaces, external play areas, sports facilities, as well as car parking and drop-off facilities. It will be manufactured at Reds10’s offsite factory facility in East Yorkshire before being transported to London Road to be assembled on-site.

Cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Gwen Grahl, said: “Wembley Manor will be a much-needed school providing specialist SEND provision for neurodivergent children. […] This school will mean more children can be educated closer to home, providing better accessibility and stronger community networks.”

She added: “We have seen increasing demand for special provision in the borough, with the number of children needing education, health and care plans increasing by around 10 per cent every year over the past decade. Around 40 per cent of these children have an autism spectrum disorder.”

Source: LondonWorld

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Fresh plans for multi-million pound 82-pupil Stoke-on-Trent school building

Fresh plans have been lodged for a new multi-million pound development for pupils with special educational needs on a demolished former school site. Stoke-on-Trent City Council wants to transform the old Middlehurst School site, in Chell, which closed 10 years ago.

The proposal would see a new SEN school building constructed to provide much-needed facilities for the nearby Watermill School, which ‘operates above its current capacity’. The vandal-plagued former school was demolished back in 2022, a year after the local authority secured £7.5 million of Government funding for the proposed development.

Similar plans, which included a sports hall, were then lodged and rubber-stamped in January 2023. However, revised proposals have now been put forward.

The planning application states that the new satellite facility will cater for 82 pupils aged between seven and 16 years old. Eight classrooms will be created along with a suite of specialist teaching spaces and staff facilities.

The new development would provide 71 car parking spots as well as seven disability spaces. It is hoped that, if the plans are approved, building work could begin by the end of the year with the development completed by around mid-2026.

The design and access statement says: “The current Watermill School is a SEN school and is located off Turnhurst Road. The school was part of the former BSF programme and was built at the same time and adjacent to the Ormiston Horizon Academy approximately 10 years ago.

“The existing Watermill School operates above its current capacity and has limited scope for extension on its exiting site. However, the Authority has suitable nearby land to develop a satellite provision which has been an element of the Authority’s long-standing strategy to retain former education land for potential future provision in this way.

“The main satellite expansion to Watermill School is a long established plan to bring back into use for SEN provision land formerly used for the Middlehurst Special School (prior to its closure on the formation of Watermill School).”

Members of the council’s planning committee are expected to approve the application next week.

Source: Stoke-on-Trent Live

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St Cecilia’s RC High School opens new building

A special blessing and service was held by school staff and pupils to officially open the new Saint Carlo Acutis building at St Cecilia’s RC High School, Longridge, Preston.

Local Priest from Alston Lane Parish Canon H Doyle and the Chair of Governors, Mr M Flynn, performed the official blessing and cutting of the ribbon.

Four new classrooms were built, along with three further internal classrooms modified, to manage a huge increase in demand for school places in the Longridge area – increasing St Cecilia’s intake from 97 to 120 pupils per year group.

St Cecilia’s is oversubscribed in every year group and is a thriving ‘outstanding’ Catholic high School. For two years in a row, we have celebrated the best GCSE results the school has ever seen.

The building project was constructed by local contractors W.M. Monks of Longridge.

Headteacher, Mrs H Hall, said: “The new building extension will make such a huge difference to what we can offer pupils, parents and the community at our school.”

Source: St Cecilia’s RC High School

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Bellway delivers new building for Kennett Primary School

Staff and pupils at Kennett Primary School have moved into a new purpose-built building within a housing development being delivered by home construction company Bellway.

The new school, off Howe Hill Road in Kennett Garden Village, has eight classrooms, each with their own outside space, a dedicated science, technology, engineering and mathematics space, playing fields and a staff car park.

Kennett Garden Village is a sustainable, high-quality neighbourhood which has been planned to include 500 homes as well as large areas of green open space and community infrastructure. Bellway Eastern Counties is building 160 homes within The Ferns at Kennett Garden Village, while Ashberry Homes — part of the Bellway Group — is delivering 164 homes at Lark’s Place at Kennett Garden Village.

The new school was funded by developer contributions. In total, Bellway contributed £4.5m to the project.

Scott Horsley, headteacher at Kennett Primary School, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Bellway for the significant part they have played in making this dream move to a new school building come true. It really is a fantastic space for members of our school community.

“Everyone is very excited about our new chapter in this fabulous new building and location, which was designed with input from us here at the school.

“The school’s former site was built in 1865, and it is with some sadness that we leave our original building behind. Through the curriculum, we have investigated historical events that have taken place since 1865; this has given our children a better understanding of chronology and the history of the place we have moved from.”

Eastern Counties sales manager Marrissa Gale said: “We are proud to have played a role in the delivery of a new custom-built school to give children in the village the best start to their education. It is good to know that the pupils will be studying in, and the staff teaching in, a modern environment which has been specifically designed to suit their needs.

“There were no playing fields on the former school site and Scott has told us that the staff and pupils are all excited about being able to get out to enjoy sport as part of the curriculum much more easily.

“The school fields at the new school site also feature an all-weather walking track around the space so that all of the children can enjoy exercise outside even through the winter months.”

Source: In Your Area

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Morgan Sindall Construction hands over SEND school at Alconbury Weald

Morgan Sindall Construction’s Cambridgeshire business has successfully delivered the brand new £36 million Specialist Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) school, Prestley Wood Academy, located at the heart of the Alconbury Weald development in Huntingdon.

Delivered on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council, Prestley Wood Academy now has the capabilities to cater for 150 pupils aged between 4-19 years. The school will form part of the Alconbury Weald Education Campus that will see the addition of a new Secondary School in future phases.

Working in collaboration with Cambridgeshire County Council and Horizons Education Trust to complete extensive engagement, Prestley Wood now boasts some of the best SEND facilities in the region. This includes two sensory rooms, a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool, trampoline room, soft play and much more.

Improvements have been made to the outside areas too with improved soft landscaping, including the introduction of new outside play and gym equipment, a MUGA pitch, and 120 new trees and wildflowers planted.

Aligned with Cambridgeshire County Council’s plans to be Net Zero by 2045, Prestley Wood has been built with sustainability in mind. 200 photovoltaic panels have been installed, as well as an energy efficient air source heat pump system.

The sustainable nature and landscape design of the school will support the curriculum to provide a range of initiatives including residential and educational visits, forest school learning, specialist art-creativity, and sport and fitness.

Prestley Wood Academy will be run as its own school but with strong links to Huntingdon’s nearby Spring Common Academy Trust, which is part of the same Horizons Education Trust.

Jamie Shearman, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Cambridgeshire, said: “Prestley Wood Academy sets a new standard for SEND schools in Cambridgeshire. We are delighted that we have had the opportunity to work with a great local supply chain and team, alongside Cambridgeshire County Council and Horizons Education Trust, to deliver this great project.

“At Morgan Sindall, we believe great learning environments inspire children’s education and progress and feel that Prestley Wood will give the next generation the best start in life.”

Caroline Place, Head Teacher at Alconbury Weald said: “Horizons Trust has worked closely with Morgan Sindall over a number of years to create an inspirational and sustainable build design, which will serve future generations of learners. Throughout the process, Morgan Sindall have listened and expertly acted upon the specialist SEND guidance in a consistent timely manner to ensure the environment is safe and provides an accessible and joyful experience for our very special group of young people.

“The open atmosphere of collaboration and creativity between a range of knowledgeable and approachable professionals has been incredible, and ably facilitated by the expert Morgan Sindall team. The whole Prestley Wood community cannot thank Morgan Sindall enough.

“The new building is a wonderful environment for learning and growth and a fantastic flagship school for our community. We look forward to welcoming our students to Prestley Wood Academy at the start of the autumn term in September 2024.”

Rebecca Britton, from the Alconbury Weald’s master developer, Urban&Civic, added: “We’re so pleased Prestley Wood Academy is open, and that the development at Alconbury Weald has been able to provide such an inspiring and supportive space for learning for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across the local area.

“It has been a fantastic experience working with the passion and commitment of the Horizons Education Trust team, and I know our residents and businesses have already given the brilliant team here a warm welcome and we look forward to welcoming students in the coming months and years. This school marks the start of our Education Campus and sets a high bar with its welcoming and sustainable building, and high aspirations for the students and their families. We look forward to continued partnership with the school and its students.”

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North Ayrshire sees first Passivhaus school

Irvine’s newest school has now been open a month – with pupils and staff setting into their new surroundings.

Built by Robertson Construction North West, the school opened in August and as part of the council’s ambitious net-zero drive, is the first ‘Passivhaus’ school in the region.

Passivhaus Standard delivers buildings which provide a high level of comfort for occupants, while using very little energy for heating and cooling. The new school will use significantly less energy than a typical school building, resulting in lower carbon emissions, and lower energy bills.

Montgomerie Park Primary accommodates up to 342 pupils, plus an early learning and childcare facility with 32 places for three to five-year-olds, and 15 places for two-year-olds.

Councillor Shaun Macaulay, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We are proud of this fantastic new school which marks a new chapter in the lives of the children and staff. It is an incredible facility and we are confident it will provide a learning and teaching environment of the very highest quality.”

Andy McLinden, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Central West, said: “It is with huge satisfaction that we deliver this project, not only a new high-quality school but a milestone in the national journey to net zero. In close collaboration with North Ayrshire Council, we have created a place that truly meets the needs and aspirations of the pupils, providing them with a nurturing educational environment where they can thrive.

“Beyond the creation of these state-of-the-art facilities, this project has also significantly contributed to community wealth building. We employed 54 local people, hosted 130 apprenticeship weeks on site, and supported employment programmes, ensuring that our work leaves a lasting legacy in the local area.”

Initial work on the new school began in March 2023. It was built to rigorous energy efficiency standards and comprises 12 classrooms, early learning facilities, a gymnasium incorporating flexible performance areas, dining facilities, along with outdoor learning spaces including a seven-a-side all-weather pitch.

Source: North Ayrshire Council

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New era begins for Ysgol Robert Owen

A new era has begun for a special school in north Powys after pupils and staff moved into their new building this week.

The new school building for Newtown’s Ysgol Robert Owen (formerly Ysgol Cedewain) is the latest project that has been completed by Powys County Council under its Transforming Education Programme.

As part of the programme, the council has already built one new high school and 10 primary schools and also carried out remodelling works at a primary and a high school.

The brand-new building has been built for pupils with additional learning needs by Wynne Construction on behalf of the council. 75% of the funding for the project is being provided by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, with the remaining 25% of funding being provided by the council.

The state-of-the-art new building has replaced the very poor accommodation at the school’s current building, and includes facilities for very vulnerable learners, including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and physiotherapy rooms and garden as well as a community café.

Outdoor sports facilities will now be developed on the grounds on the site of the former school buildings now they have been vacated.

Staff are now able to teach in a learning environment that is fit-for-purpose, and for parents they have confidence that their children are being supported within the best facilities and accommodation.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “I’m delighted that pupils and staff of Ysgol Robert Owen have moved into their fantastic new school building.

“I would like to thank the school community for their patience while this facility was being built. I would also like to acknowledge the school’s input into this scheme to ensure that it was built to minimise the design impact on pupils.

“This project has seen the council provide a world-class facility for the county’s most vulnerable learners.

“This new building is an important part of our Strategy to Transform Education in Powys and will provide an environment where teaching staff and thrive and give vulnerable learners the facilities that meets their needs, they benefit from and enables them to enjoy learning.”

To read the council’s Strategy for Transforming Education 2020-2032 and details of the Transforming Education Programme – Wave 2 (2022 – 2027) visit Transforming Education

Source: Powys County Council

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Government to take new approach to education infrastructure

Michelle Davies, DPP Consulting’s Director and Education Lead, explores the Labour government’s approach to education infrastructure.

Shortly after Labour took office, its new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced plans to reform the planning system, focusing on unlocking “stalled sites” and prioritising economic benefits in planning decisions. This includes support for local authorities with the appointment of an additional 300 new planning officers.

The government is now also consulting on a new NPPF which now places “significant weight” on the importance of new, expanded or upgraded public infrastructure, including educational buildings. Despite this backdrop, there has been limited information on how the new government will be improving school infrastructure.

The School Rebuilding Programme

The School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) remains active, with no indications from the government that it will be halted. The SRP is a key initiative aimed at addressing the condition of school buildings across England, with plans to rebuild or refurbish over 500 schools in poor condition over a decade.

The importance of this programme is underscored by the National Audit Office (NAO) report from June 2023, which highlighted that approximately 700,000 pupils are learning in schools that require significant rebuilding or refurbishment.

The issue of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) further complicates matters, with 234 education settings in England confirmed as having RAAC and 119 of these schools needing major rebuilding or refurbishment. It remains to be seen how the government will approach this pressing issue.

The government’s primary focus so far has been on other educational reforms, such as increasing teacher recruitment, introducing free breakfast clubs, and pledging to create 3,000 new nurseries within existing primary schools. While it seems unlikely that it would reduce funding on educational infrastructure, there is still no clear commitment at this stage.

A new emphasis on public infrastructure

One area where we see more immediate and tangible changes is in the proposed updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These updates could provide much-needed support for planning applications related to education infrastructure projects.

In the draft NPPF, paragraphs 96 and 97 have been expanded to encourage not only the provision school places, but also the development of early years and post-16 education infrastructure. This broader scope is significant as it suggests a more holistic approach to supporting educational needs, encompassing nurseries, special education needs (SEN), and further and higher education institutions. 

Moreover, paragraph 98 of the draft NPPF has been revised to place “significant weight” on the importance of new, expanded or upgraded public service infrastructure, including education buildings, in planning decisions. This revision is helpful because planning applications, including for new educational facilities, often involve balancing multiple competing interests. The added emphasis on the importance of educational infrastructure could tip the scales in favour of approval, particularly where there is clear need for improved facilities. As a planner, it will be interesting to see how this plays out in real situations and applications.

The explicit support for a wider range of educational facilities and the greater value placed on these projects within NPPF should be helpful when seeking approval for projects that address not just immediate school place shortages or improvements but also broader educational needs within communities.

Consultation on the new NPPF closes on 24 September 2024 and is expected to be formally in place shortly after. However, when it comes to spending commitments there are a lot of ifs, buts and ‘possibilities’ in all of these statements, and as a fundamental sector in the economic development of the UK, our educators and educational planners could do with more certainty.

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Leicestershire sees opening of new SEND school

A brand-new specialist school for pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs has completed in Shepshed, Leicestershire, offering facilities for students aged 4-16 from September 2024.

Bowman Academy, which is situated on the former site of St Botolph’s Primary School, located to the east of Shepshed on Loughborough Road, will see pupils benefit from a range of facilities to suit their needs. This includes classroom suites with vinyl areas to support practical learning, a sensory “dark room”, practical teaching spaces including a domestic kitchen, a library, a calming room, and a main hall with a demountable stage.

The new build SEND school, which has been designed sympathetically to the needs of SEMH learning, has space for 64 pupils, with facilities for 16 primary-aged children across two ground floor classrooms, with the remaining 48 secondary-aged pupils split across two ground floor classrooms, and a further four on the first floor. The first floor also has an additional three classrooms for practical uses.

Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard was behind the scheme, providing architectural services for main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, which was procured by the Department for Education (DfE) under the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC1) framework.

Joe West, associate at Pick Everard, said: “Working on SEND schools is always a privilege, with unique design applications and special consideration for the needs of a diverse range of learning.

“Creating an environment that is both functional and comfortable for pupils was central to the aims of the project, which should in turn aid the school in attracting and retaining students in the area.

“The construction technique employed on this project was a fully offsite solution, so thorough sequencing and planning was paramount to ensure all materials were delivered safely and successfully, as well as meeting the highest standards.

“We’re delighted to have worked alongside Bowmer + Kirkland once again to deliver this fantastic academy for pupils in the area with SEMH needs.”

Driving sustainability initiatives, Bowman Academy’s design includes a ‘fabric-first’ approach, which reduces the energy requirements of the building through measures including high levels of insulation, heat recovery and air tightness.

High efficiency boilers have been installed at the school, which will be run by the Community Inclusive Trust (CIT), as well as LED lighting with occupancy and daylight controls for resource management. The building also has glare control and sustainable natural ventilation, providing a low energy cost solution.

Additionally, the site includes a photovoltaic panel array, providing a ten per cent energy consumption offset from renewable technology.

Steve Waldron, contracts manager at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We have been working for the DfE since 2013 and are proud of the 73 schools we have completed, but specialist schools are unique in the enormous difference they make to the pupils and their families. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Pick Everard to deliver another fantastic facility which will improve the lives of so many young people.”

Cllr Deborah Taylor, cabinet member for Children and Families at Leicestershire County Council, said: “It is exciting to see the school completed and we’re looking forward to it opening and welcoming new pupils.

“The building of Bowman Academy part of a wider program to ensure provision is available to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Leicestershire, as close to their homes as possible.

“This includes both the building of special schools and creating provision in mainstream schools.”

James Ellis, CIT’s director of SEND education, said, “This is a very exciting time for Bowman Academy. SEMH is a unique sector of education requiring distinctive building design to support the delivery of specialist teaching and care for pupils.

“We look forward to welcoming children in Shepshed and the surrounding area to our new setting and supporting them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to help them thrive in adult life.”

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Belhaven Hill School’s new classroom building plan approved

A bid for a new classroom building at a Dunbar school has been given pass marks by East Lothian Council.

Belhaven Hill School approached the local authority’s planning department last summer about creating a new classroom building. Permission was granted and approval has now been given to a second application.

The revised plans, which attracted no objections from members of the public, show two classrooms, a plant and storage room, office, lobby, bathroom and storage room.

The planning officer’s report said: “The proposed building would be of a contemporary design; however, given its siting within the grounds of Belhaven School and the high stone wall boundary treatment to the north of the proposed building, it would be relatively well contained from public views.

“Furthermore, when viewed in the context of the size and scale of the existing buildings within the grounds of the school, the proposed building would appear subservient in height, scale and massing, and would not result in the over development of the area of land on which it would be sited.”

The scheme is part of a three-phase planned development at the school, off Dunbar’s Belhaven Road, which last year celebrated its centenary.

Phase two focuses on the extension and enhancement of sporting facilities, while the final phase looks to replace temporary structures with 21st-century classroom space.

The school counts artist Hugh Buchanan and journalist Magnus Linklater among its former pupils.

Source: East Lothian Courier

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