Chalk Hill new special school+ PRU
Education
We are pleased to confirm that we have recently submitted Chalk Hill SEN School for a detailed planning application which involves the expansion of the current site to include teaching and residential accommodation for the additional pupil intake. The project is part of a CIF bid with the Department for Education.
Chalk Hill SEN School is to become a co-educational school accommodating pupils from 8-14 with particular provision for pupils who have been permanently excluded or are at risk of permanent exclusion from mainstream schools.
The design response to the unique site is to create 2 curved blocks which intentionally face south which will bring natural daylight, ventilation and nature into the teaching and residential accommodation. The space between the two blocks would be a high quality landscaped courtyard area which would enable outdoor learning, quiet study and contemplative spaces within the school.
The playground has been relocated to a larger multi-use games area within the school playing field, which accommodates the increase in pupil numbers.
The new accommodation consists of:
- 3 primary years Classrooms with Support Group and 1:1 study areas.
- 5 secondary Classrooms with Support Group and 1:1 areas.
- 180m2 School Hall
- Administrative areas.
- Specialist spaces for Science, DT and Food Tech.
- SEN spaces for sensory, multi-sensory and soft play.
- Kitchen, Servery and Admin spaces.
- Storage areas.
- Lift
- Staff and Administrative areas.
- Residential Bedrooms.
- Bathrooms, WCs etc.
The new building is primarily two-storeys in height with a combination of pitched and flat roofs and the building follows the natural curvature of the site. The pitched roof will allow back lighting and ventilation to the first-floor classrooms and bedroom spaces. The classrooms and residential accommodation purposefully faces landscaped areas and the mature woodland setting.
‘Grayling Thomas has been a faultless company to work with. SENDAT is a Multi Academy Trust running a group of special schools in Suffolk and Norfolk. We first approached Andrew to participate in a tender for CIF partners and ultimately worked closely on an innovative new design for a potential full rebuild of a residential Pupil Referral Unit. Andrew and his team managed and attended regular weekly meetings providing clear next steps whilst listening and responding to our requirements. Nothing was too much trouble. We had clear updated creative designs and costings all the way through the two years of working on the project.
Andrew is a delight to work with and the requirements of the client are always paramount. He remains good humoured, calm and clear headed even when met with usual premises trials. The team clearly all know each other well and work very effectively together. SENDAT hope to work with Grayling Thomas again in the future.’
Sue Prickett
CFOO- SENDAT
