Work has started on a new £15million school in Pensnett for children with complex needs.
Pens Meadow School will be completely rebuilt under the new plans on the former Pensnett High School site.
Heavy machinery has moved onto the site and contractors Interclass PLC have started clearing the land to make way for the new state-of-the art building.
Once built, the school will provide education for 155 children and young people aged 3 to 19, together with a nursery assessment unit for the borough.
The purpose-built building will deliver better facilities for pupils with complex needs and severe learning difficulties, including autism and those with profound and multiple learning difficulties.
It will have therapy rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, changing facilities, outdoor teaching and play areas, and 14 larger classrooms where the layouts can be changed for
children with additional needs.
There will also be a food technology room with independent living space to prepare pupils for adult life. A rebound room with a large trampoline sunk into the floor will promote exercise and help pupils develop motor skills.
There is a focus on sustainability within the design, with plans for PV panels to turn sunlight into electricity and air source heat pumps to help heat the school.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said:
“There has been a lot of hard work getting to this point and I am delighted to see that coming to fruition with activity on site. We have been championing the drive for better facilities for our children and I am pleased to say that is paying off.”
Marie Hunter, Headteacher of Pens Meadow School, said:
“This is something we really need and I am delighted to see the work starting on site. When complete, the school community will have a facility they can all really be proud of.”
Des O’Neill, managing director of Interclass, said:
“We have really hit the ground running, and I’m delighted to see so much progress on-site already. With work progressing apace, we are very much on track to deliver this important project for the local community.
"The new learning facility will be fully equipped with the latest technology to accommodate a range of educational needs, and we are immensely proud to create an environment where children can thrive and reach their full potential. I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape over the coming months."
Construction is expected to be complete in the summer of 2025. The school is set to be fully operational in January 2026, with a phased transition for some of the pupils to the new site starting in the autumn of 2025.
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