Work started in July to increase special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) spaces for Central Bedfordshire Council by converting Chiltern Special School’s site at Kingsland Campus in Parkside Drive to increase capacity for an additional 120 students with autism spectrum disorder and complex needs.
The school has been operating at two sites in Beech Road and Parkside Drive in Houghton Regis and the refurbishment and alterations will enable the children at both sites to join together and increase capacity to 419 pupils.
Through a series of client engagement meetings and discussions with the Council and consultants, AECOM, the £6.5m scheme was developed to include provision of 15 social, emotional and mental health classrooms, and three for children with specific learning disabilities. The classrooms will also have adjacent quiet, calming rooms which will provide a safe space for children should they need it.
It is unusual for Ashe to start work on an existing school that’s empty, so the team was able to get full possession of the 2790sq m, two storey building to start demolition and first fix mechanical and electrical work (M&E).
The work includes rationalising and improving the internal layout and incorporating mechanical ventilation throughout.
New internal walls have been constructed for corridors, classrooms and toilets, a music room and food tech room. The children will also have a new multi-purpose hall and specialist rooms such as a therapy room, sensory room, medical suite and hygienic room. New spaces for offices and staff rooms have also been included.
November saw the start of the second fix for M&E installations and further work to add finishes to walls. New external doors, windows and flooring have also been fitted.
John Hughes, Ashe’s project manager said: “There’s been a lot of interest from people passing by the site, particularly from parents delivering and collecting children at the school next door, so I’ve been posting a newsletter on the site hoarding each month to keep everyone up to date with our progress.”
In the run up to Christmas, work on ceilings, and hygienic finishes for toilets and kitchen areas is being completed along with connecting the mains power and lighting.
Final decorating and completion of ceiling grids will take place shortly, along with finishing toilet cubicles, and testing and commissioning to complete the M&E installation will take place.
The new year will see the classroom, office and communal furniture installed in time for the opening of the new school in February. Each of the 22 classrooms will have a teaching wall featuring all the equipment needed to aid classroom learning.
The alterations will improve accessibility with wider doorways and increased provision of disabled toilets. The project has been designed by architects Roberts Limbrick who have incorporated calming colours into the décor along with high-definition design elements for visually impaired students.
Andrew Morris, business development director at Ashe said: “We have become a specialist in building schools for those with special needs and it’s wonderful to see that the focus is on creating the very best, purpose-built facilities for all children whatever their abilities. We’re proud to play our part in providing the right environment which will optimise the learning and give local children the best possible start in life.”
The external works are currently underway and will give each ground floor classroom its own secure external play area with additional shared activity space within the secure line.
The car parking has been remodelled at the front of the site to incorporate dedicated drop off bays, making it easier for parents and carers to drop off students near to their new school entrance.
Find out about Ashe’s other education projects here.