Kier has been appointed to deliver a new satellite centre for Clarendon School, a special educational needs and disability (SEND) school in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
The purpose-designed building, delivered through the SCAPE Construction Framework, will expand the school’s specialist provision and provide high-quality facilities for up to 77 primary and secondary pupils (KS1–KS5) with moderate learning difficulties and complex needs, including autism.
This new centre forms part of the Council’s wider investment to improve and expand specialist SEND provision locally, giving children and young people the right support closer to home and reducing the need for out-of-borough placements.
Kier will lead the design and construction of the satellite centre, which will include ten classrooms and four specialist teaching spaces for art, drama, music, food technology and life skills. Additional facilities will include a new hall, kitchen, office space, therapy rooms, group rooms and breakout areas.
External areas of the site will provide new soft and hard play areas together with a court area and a sensory garden. Car parking facilities for staff incorporates electric vehicle charging points and cycle storage, which supports sustainable travel.
Designed with sustainability at its core, the school aims to achieve a ‘BREEAM’ ‘Excellent’ rating and net zero carbon in operation, in line with local and London planning requirements. Energy efficiency features include heating powered by air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels for green electricity, motion detection light switches, and smart metres with energy monitoring and reporting facilities.
Leader of Richmond Council, Councillor Gareth Roberts, said:
"This is about giving children and young people with special educational needs the very best start in life. Families in Richmond upon Thames have told us how important it is to have the right support closer to home, and that’s exactly what this project will deliver. This represents a significant investment in our pupils and staff and is a major step forward for our borough – one I know will make a real difference for years to come."
John Bolton, regional director, Kier Construction London & Thames Valley added:
"We are incredibly proud to be delivering such an important school for London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. This outstanding facility will address the vital need for specialist SEND education in the borough while providing much-needed support for students in a modern and inclusive environment."
Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said:
"Clarendon School represents a significant step forward in meeting the growing demand for SEND school places in the area, and we are proud to be supporting this important project. Through our Gold Standard verified Construction Framework, we are focused on close collaboration with Kier to create long-term value, ensure full compliance, and deliver meaningful social and economic outcomes that leaves a lasting legacy for the client, students, and the wider community."
The highly-sustainable scheme will be delivered through Kier’s integrated 360 approach, with its in-house Mechanical and Electrical, Design and Highways teams collaborating to create a world-class, purpose-built learning environment for students of all ages.
This appointment builds on Kier’s extensive experience of delivering SEND facilities in London, including the new Carew Academy in Croydon, Pinn River in Hillingdon and Spa School, a co-educational special school for students with autism in Camberwell. This is in addition to the multi-award winning Greenwood Centre, a resource and community centre that is run by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities, in Camden.
Kier is a long-standing SCAPE delivery partner, having collaborated with over 360 clients across the national framework to deliver value for money public sector infrastructure, supported by local supply chain partners where 89% of companies are located within a 40 mile radius of each project. Our teams have delivered over 1,300 SCAPE projects, creating more than 760 new jobs, facilitating over 750 new apprentices, and engaging with over 47,000 schoolchildren.
To find out more, visit: https://scape.co.uk/construction-frameworks/kier.