A new school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has reached its latest milestone.
Nottinghamshire County Councillors and partners gathered at the former Ravensdale School site in Mansfield to mark the completion of the building’s main structure, with a roof also in place.
To be known as Horizons Academy and run by Diverse Academies Trust, the purpose-built school will have capacity for up to 160 pupils across the seven to 19 years age range.
Due to open by spring term 2026, it will provide a specialist learning environment for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
The £30 million project is part of a wider programme being delivered by the county council to create up to 490 additional SEND school places by 2026. This will help address the growing demand for more specialist school places across the county.
David Cotton, Diverse Academies Trust chief executive officer, said: “We were delighted to attend the structure signing for Horizons Academy and it was a rare opportunity to leave an indelible mark within the building structure for future generations to come.
“It was also incredible to see how far the building works have progressed – Horizons is truly on track to deliver an exceptional learning environment for young people in the local community with special educational needs.”
The school is being designed, project and cost managed by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, with construction being undertaken by Morgan Sindall Construction.
Sara Williams, Deputy Managing Director at Arc Partnership, added: “Horizons Academy is a special project for us. Particular attention has been given to how the design supports the particular needs of these young people, considering their movement around school and accommodating sensory zones and calm spaces to better support the pupils.
“It was great to celebrate the school’s progress and we look forward to seeing how it benefits pupils and the wider community.”
As well as the build, the £30 million costs include additional costs such as furniture and equipment.
