A world-first new special school has opened in Scunthorpe.
Trent View College in West Common Lane officially opened on Monday. It is a new academy for specialist educational needs and disabilities (SEND) pupils, aged 16 to 19.
The college will host 60 pupils and about 35 staff. The purpose-built school offers state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities, and was funded by £11.1m from the Department for Education and approximately £1m from North Lincolnshire Council.
Trent View College Principal Sarah Parker described it on opening day as an “incredibly exciting moment for the local community”. “We now have this amazing new building and talented team in place to provide a nurturing space where our students can acquire vital life skills, engage in meaningful work and develop their routes toward independence.
“It will be life changing for the students attending.” The college includes a horticulture area, catering kitchen, and a health and beauty workshop room.
As well as the vocational areas are carefully considered therapeutic spaces to provide support and intervention for young people with more complex needs. These include a hydrotherapy pool, rebound area and fully immersive sensory rooms.
It also leads the way environmentally. Designed by HTML Architects and built by Morgan Sindall Construction Ltd, the school meets strict “Passivhaus” standards around energy efficiency and environmental impact.
The inclusion of the heat-intensive hydrotherapy pool makes Trent View College the first SEND school with a hydrotherapy pool in the world to achieve such standards. At its peak, there were just over 100 people working on the college’s construction.
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children, families and communities, said she was excited to see it open, adding “it’s a project very close to my heart”, passionate about SEND facilities being locally available, so kids did not have to travel far to access them. “It is a first carbon neutral building in Europe for an educational establishment, so it’s always good to see a first,” she said, adding: “The facilities are absolutely amazing.”
(Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive)
Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft shared similar sentiments about access to such facilities in the local area and added: “I am delighted that we see the state of the art facilities opening here in Scunthorpe.
“I’ve visited a number of times during the building process and it’s really exciting to see the facilities and equipments that have gone into the building.”
Wellspring Academy Trust works across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and was established in 2012. With Trent View’s opening, it now runs 31 schools and colleges.
“This is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and creative thinking from all partners involved in this project, and today is a truly proud moment for us all,” said Mark Wilson, Wellspring Academy Trust CEO. “At Wellspring, we prioritise inclusivity, forward-thinking, community involvement and a desire to always do things better. Trent View College epitomises that approach.
(Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive)
“The innovation and ambition behind this project has set the standard for what SEND schools can, and should, be. I look forward to watching the impact of Trent View College on its students and the Scunthorpe community over the coming months and years.” Catherine Ward, associate & SEN lead at HLM Architects, said it was “incredibly proud” to be involved in the design and delivery of the unique special school.
“The new building will not only provide much needed school places and specialist facilities for post 16 students with SEND in North Lincolnshire but, also provide numerous benefits offered by Passivhaus design including; an energy efficient, sustainable, high performing building; lowered running cost; and a comfortable internal environment improving health and wellbeing of students and staff.”
(Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive)
Ben Hall, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, likewise said it was “a privilege” for it to contribute to Trent View’s creation. “It’s incredibly positive to see more demand for state-of-the-art facilities such as Trent View College.
“It indicates a change in ideals surrounding our education system and understanding of how we encourage the best out of everyone. Collaboration has been crucial to this project, and the support we’ve had from the Wellspring Academy Trust and HLM has given us the scope to apply our expertise in delivering this fantastic educational environment.”
He added he looked forward to seeing the impact of its work at Trent View.
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
