A state-of-the-art extension to a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Wickford has been handed over to Essex County Council by Morgan Sindall Construction.
To celebrate the project’s completion, the Morgan Sindall project team were joined by Cllr Tony Ball, MP Mark Francois, other Essex County Council representatives, and families at Castledon School for speeches, refreshments and a tour of the school’s new facilities.
The development includes 11 multi-purpose classrooms, including a sports hall, food tech classroom, science lab, art studio, therapy and physio facilities, a calm room, multi-use games area, library and office space for teaching staff.
In collaboration with architects and MEP designers Ingleton Wood and structural designers Superstructures, the extension has increased the school’s capacity from 82 students to 196.
Ryan Liversage, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Essex, said: “How fantastic it is to celebrate the opening of Castledon School’s exceptional SEN facilities.
“It means a great deal to enhance the next generation’s educational experience through our work, creating a space where students feel safe and supported.
“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Essex County Council from start to finish and look forward to seeing the community enjoy the development for years to come.”
The extension was built to meet the growing need for specialist education support spaces for students in the local area, aged between five and 19, living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), moderate learning difficulties and other special educational needs.
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “This is an exciting milestone and part of our ongoing efforts to create more much-needed school places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.
“We’re committed to ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education in an environment that meets their individual needs and I look forward to hearing how pupils are enjoying these new facilities.”
To make a positive impact on the community throughout construction, Morgan Sindall gave six Castledon School students, aged 17-19, the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on-site across five weeks.
As a result, one student has been offered additional work experience at another Morgan Sindall led project, Glenwood Sixth Form in South Benfleet.
Morgan Sindall is also collaborating with contractor GSQ Brickwork to support four additional work experience students interested in careers in bricklaying. This has involved an invitation to pupils from Castledon SEN School to tour their training facility.
Simon Holliday, Headteacher at Castledon School, said: “We are deeply thankful to Essex County Council for investing in our school and commissioning this wonderful project.
“The new facilities will make a huge difference to our students, giving us the space to deliver a broad and ambitious curriculum that helps every young person to thrive.
“I’d also like to thank Morgan Sindall, who have been a delight to work with and have delivered a high-quality build, as well as the central team at Zenith Multi Academy Trust and the team at Castledon School for their hard work and commitment throughout.”
Mark Francois, Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford, added: “I would like to congratulate Morgan Sindall on a job very well done at Castledon.
“The school is already rated Outstanding, across the board, by OFSTED and these impressive new facilities, which I had the honour of helping to open, will enable them to go from strength to strength.”