Morgan Sindall Construction has celebrated the opening of a new SEND teaching block and specialist hydrotherapy pool at Philip Southcote School in Addlestone.
To mark this milestone, the Morgan Sindall project team, members of Surrey County Council (SCC), teachers, pupils, and their families gathered at the school, where students were delighted to show their families around the new classrooms.
The tier one contractor was appointed to the project by Surrey County Council and the scheme was procured through the fifth generation of the Southern Construction Framework (SCF5), a collaborative procurement and delivery framework delivering value for money and project predictability.
SCC invested £11.1million into the buildings, which include new classrooms, an ICT suite, additional provisions for hearing-impaired students, and the hydrotherapy pool, creating 27 additional school places as well as upgrading spaces for 24 existing pupils. To officially open the new teaching block and pool building, Deputy Mayor of Runnymede, Margaret Harnden, cut the white ribbon at the opening event.
This three-form entry Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) School accommodates students aged 11 to 19, fostering a sense of belonging so that children feel safe throughout their educational journey.
Morgan Sindall led the construction work with design, property, and construction consultants Pellings. Pellings provided the designs for the new teaching block and Morgan Sindall’s design team created the plans for the hydrotherapy pool building.
This is the first project to be completed under the SCF5 framework, which was developed to support public sector construction and development in the region, across education, health, local authority and leisure developments. Contractors on the framework have demonstrated exemplary carbon benchmarking.
To align with SCC’s net zero ambitions, the 12 x 6m² pool showcases cutting-edge technology and offers carbon reductions of up to 45%. The school’s sustainability performance was informed by Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach to construction, which included installing air source heat pumps and adding photovoltaic panels to both buildings. Additionally, the pool design also includes hydromassage areas to promote circulation and relaxation, providing increased ergonomic benefits.
To make a positive impact on Addlestone’s community throughout construction, Morgan Sindall employed local site operatives who live within 20 miles of the school as part of the supply chain, enriching the local economy. The project team also hired 16 work placement students, empowering the next generation of construction professionals to gain hands-on experience on site.
Paul Holden, Senior Preconstruction Manager for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Southern Home Counties, said, “It’s fantastic to see the completion of the SEND teaching block and hydrotherapy pool at Philip Southcote School, where our work in collaboration with Surrey County Council, Pellings, and many others will help to support the next generation of pupils with additional needs and disabilities. These vibrant, high-quality educational environments signify a key investment in the future of Addlestone and the wider Surrey community, meeting the needs of local families.
“The whole team is exceptionally proud of this state-of-the-art school, and we can’t wait to see the students settle in and start learning through these specialist facilities.”
Surrey County Council is dedicated to enhancing specialist school provision through its SEND and Alternative Provision Capital Programmes which are key to the delivery of Surrey’s Inclusion and Additional Needs Partnership Strategy 2023-2026. The strategy aims to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with additional needs and disabilities in Surrey, ensuring they get the best possible education closer to home.
