Celebration marks opening of Essex’s new SEND Sixth Form centre
A brand-new SEND Sixth Form in South Benfleet, Essex, has officially opened its doors to students.
The new facility, known as Glenwood Rise, forms part of Glenwood School and is set to welcome its first students in September. Essex County Council (ECC) appointed Morgan Sindall Construction’s Essex business to build the £6.6m project through the ECC framework.
Glenwood Rise has been designed to create a modern and accessible learning environment to support pupils with complex needs. It features five classrooms, a dining space, catering training centre, meeting room, and specialised sensory rooms.
Dame Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point, joined school staff and representatives from the council and Morgan Sindall at an official opening ceremony in early July to mark the completion of the project.
Glenwood School’s Sixth Form was built to meet Essex’s growing demand for SEND spaces and has capacity for 40 students. In addition to the educational facilities, the project included creating vibrant landscaping, small play areas, and a car park with 109 spaces, seven EV charging spots, three accessible spots, and eight additional minibus spaces.
The new sixth form has been constructed using a SIPS frame and brickwork façade, delivering both efficiency and durability. This combination creates excellent insulation and airtightness levels while reducing energy costs and providing a comfortable learning environment.
In line with Morgan Sindall’s commitment to sustainability, Glenwood Rise has been designed to be carbon net-zero in operation, with PV panels on the roof providing renewable electricity and air source heat pumps delivering heat to the building.
Ryan Liversage, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Essex, said:
We’re incredibly proud to have delivered Glenwood School’s new sixth form facility, as we know that it is going to play a vital role in the local area for generations to come.
Creating specialist educational facilities such as Glenwood Rise requires an acute awareness of the current and future needs of the students, staff, and community and reflecting these in the design, build and future operation of the site. Thanks to our understanding of South Benfleet and expertise in building SEND facilities, we know that this sixth form will provide an inspiring educational experience in a sustainable, high-end environment.”
The new sixth form is part of Glenwood School, a £15.4m specialist secondary school that was completed by Morgan Sindall in 2017, creating a state-of-the-art educational facility for 210 students aged 3-19-years-old with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties.