Morgan Sindall bags £18.8m school expansion in Essex

The number of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school places in Colchester, Essex, is set to increase as work on the £18.8m expansion to Lexden Springs School gets underway.

The major relocation and expansion project on behalf of Essex County Council will increase Lexden Springs’ capacity from 120 to 200 pupils.

Essex County Council has appointed construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall to deliver the major programme - expected to be complete by September 2019.

Currently located on Halstead Road in Colchester, Lexden Springs School will relocate to a new state-of-the-art campus on the former Heath School site, in Winstree Road, Stanway. Existing buildings on the site will be demolished to make room for the new school.

Saul Humphrey, managing director of Morgan Sindall’s East region, said: “We’re so pleased to be working alongside Essex County Council once again as we deliver this exciting expansion for Lexden Springs School.

“Essex County Council’s record investment in developing the region’s special education needs facilities is a testament to the council’s commitment to transforming the teaching provisions that are currently in place for children with SEND learning requirements.

“The new facilities will have a great impact on Lexden Springs, creating an inspiring and modern place for children to learn and enjoy their educational journey. The additional space will be a great boost to the school, allowing even more children across the region to benefit from the school’s outstanding teaching.”

Thirty boarding places will be made available for pupils and Morgan Sindall’s project team will also deliver extensive car parking and landscaping works to the new school.

The new building will have two separate entrances, with one specifically designed for use by minibuses and taxis to drop off and collect pupils.

Lexden Springs’ expansion is part of the authority’s plans to spend up to £115m on creating more than 400 new SEND places across Essex.

The record investment, which includes £42m from the Essex Schools Forum, comes after an increase in the number of children in the county being diagnosed with autism and a surge in the demand for SEND school places.

Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for education, concluded: “We are making great progress in our commitment to ensuring all pupils in Essex receive the best possible education and that there is enough capacity within the county’s schools to meet every child’s individual needs.

“Plans to relocate Lexden Springs School have been in the pipeline for a long time and I am very pleased we are working with Morgan Sindall to deliver this project.

“The expansion of the school will help meet the increased demand for special school places in the area and reduce the need for children to be educated at independent schools or outside of Essex.”

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