New £32m SEND Bramcote secondary school building breaks ground

A ceremony was held last week for the groundbreaking and commencement of works at Foxwood 2, a new educational building to accommodate an additional 150 pupils between the ages of 11 and 18.

The new building will serve as a secondary school expansion for pupils at Foxwood Academy and will be built on the site of the former Bramcote Park School, which was subject to a major fire in September 2021 and has stood derelict for many years.

Procured through the SCAPE Construction framework, the £32m project will be delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction's Midlands business on behalf of The White Hills Park Trust and Foxwood Academy. The purpose-built secondary school building will deliver life-enhancing educational opportunities for all of its pupils and is due to complete in winter 2027.

Designed by Noviun Architects and project managed by Gleeds, the two-storey building will feature a separate adulthood preparation building to teach life skills; a gym and a café for the use of students and the public.

Outside, there will be car parking spaces for staff, dedicated pick-up and drop-off spaces, a cycle track, a soft play area and outdoor gym equipment.

The building will be Net Zero Carbon in Operation, utilising solar PV panels and air source heat pumps to maximise on-site energy generation and sustainable building management.

The new Foxwood Academy building will support secondary pupils’ learning and preparation for adulthood, helping to equip them to tackle the specific challenges faced by SEND pupils: including being twice as likely to suffer from mental health issues as peers, and being 50% more likely to experience chronic loneliness.

During construction, older Foxwood students will be able to take part in activities and skills sessions (such as bricklaying) to help provide experiences and insights into the construction industry. In addition to this, a minimum of four apprentices will work on the site and four work experience students will be able to spend time with the Morgan Sindall team.

Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction’s Midlands Business, said: “Foxwood 2 will be an incredibly important resource for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities from Broxtowe and across Nottinghamshire. With ground officially broken this week, we’re expecting our programme of works to continue until winter 2027, with new pupils starting in January 2028. We are working collaboratively with the amazing team at Foxwood Academy and The White Hills Park Trust to ensure that the building delivers exactly what is needed for their students to have the best start in life.”

James Macdonald, Chief Operating Officer for The White Hills Park Trust said “We are delighted to have broken ground on Foxwood 2. Our Design and Build team, including Morgan Sindall, Noviun Architects and Gleeds have worked both imaginatively and creatively with us to design a new build that fits in with the local landscape and will deliver a school that meets the needs of local young people with SEND. Delivering this purpose-built special school empowers students with disabilities to thrive, learn, and succeed in environments designed just for them.”

Jamie Hutchinson, Headteacher at Foxwood Academy said “Staff, governors and students are delighted that construction has started on the brand-new secondary special school campus at Foxwood Academy. The new building will serve children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities from across the south of Nottinghamshire.

The modern, purpose-built facilities will support Foxwood in delivering a rich, ambitious and inclusive curriculum that responds to the broad range of needs within its student community. This is an incredibly exciting milestone for the whole Foxwood community. We are looking forward to seeing the new school take shape and to the opportunities it will provide for children, families and the wider community for many years to come.”