A new specialist school dedicated to pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs has been completed in Shepshed, Leicestershire. It will provide facilities for students aged 4-16 starting from September 2024.
Bowman Academy, located on the previous grounds of St Botolph’s Primary School to the east of Shepshed on Loughborough Road, will offer students a variety of facilities tailored to their requirements. These facilities include classroom suites with vinyl sections for hands-on learning, a sensory ‘dark room’, practical teaching areas with a home-style kitchen, a library, a tranquility room, and a main hall equipped with a removable stage.
The newly constructed SEND school, tailored to meet the requirements of SEMH education, accommodates 64 students. It features facilities for 16 primary-aged children in two ground floor classrooms, while 48 secondary-aged students are distributed between two ground floor classrooms and four on the first floor. Additionally, the first floor includes three more classrooms designated for practical activities.
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard was behind the scheme, providing architectural services for main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, which was procured by the Department for Education (DfE) under the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC1) framework.
Joe West, associate at Pick Everard, said: “Working on SEND schools is always a privilege, with unique design applications and special consideration for the needs of a diverse range of learning.
“Creating an environment that is both functional and comfortable for pupils was central to the aims of the project, which should in turn aid the school in attracting and retaining students in the area.
“The construction technique employed on this project was a fully offsite solution, so thorough sequencing and planning was paramount to ensure all materials were delivered safely and successfully, as well as meeting the highest standards.
“We’re delighted to have worked alongside Bowmer + Kirkland once again to deliver this fantastic academy for pupils in the area with SEMH needs.”
Bowman Academy’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its design, which adopts a ‘fabric-first’ approach. This strategy minimizes the building’s energy needs by incorporating high insulation levels, heat recovery systems, and enhanced air tightness.
The school has installed high-efficiency boilers, which will be operated by the Community Inclusive Trust (CIT), along with LED lighting equipped with occupancy and daylight controls to manage resources effectively. Additionally, the building features glare control and sustainable natural ventilation systems, offering a solution that minimizes energy costs. Additionally, the site includes a photovoltaic panel array, providing a ten per cent energy consumption offset from renewable technology.
Steve Waldron, contracts manager at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We have been working for the DfE since 2013 and are proud of the 73 schools we have completed, but specialist schools are unique in the enormous difference they make to the pupils and their families. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Pick Everard to deliver another fantastic facility which will improve the lives of so many young people.”
Cllr Deborah Taylor, cabinet member for Children and Families at Leicestershire County Council, said: “It is exciting to see the school completed and we’re looking forward to it opening and welcoming new pupils.
“The building of Bowman Academy part of a wider program to ensure provision is available to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Leicestershire, as close to their homes as possible.
“This includes both the building of special schools and creating provision in mainstream schools.”
James Ellis, CIT’s director of SEND education, said, “This is a very exciting time for Bowman Academy. SEMH is a unique sector of education requiring distinctive building design to support the delivery of specialist teaching and care for pupils.
“We look forward to welcoming children in Shepshed and the surrounding area to our new setting and supporting them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to help them thrive in adult life.”
The project at Bowman Academy builds on further work from Pick Everard in Shepshed, following its key role in the £2.5m regeneration of its town centre in March.