Pupils at Sandgate School in Kendal have started their new Autumn term with a much improved learning environment, following works to reconfigure parts of their building.
Sandgate is a special school for children and young people between the ages of three and nineteen years and operates as a satellite campus at The Queen Katherine School. The school is already undergoing a £6 million expansion project to increase the footprint of the school and create more areas for learning and development, with works anticipated to be completed by Autumn 2024.
These additional alterations inside the existing school building were funded by Westmorland and Furness Council, following consultation with the school on requirements for the project. The developments were carried out over the six week summer break and completed ready for the start of the new school year.
The demanding programme saw work undertaken throughout the school, moving and building walls to create new group classrooms, all with adjoining breakout rooms.
Daniel Hinton, Headteacher at Sandgate School, said:
“We are very pleased to have moved into our refurbished lower school site at the start of term. The work was on time and of a great standard. A number of our classes now have break out spaces to allow small groups to access focussed sessions.”
“These spaces will increase the quality of teaching and learning and allow us to increase the number of children we can accommodate. As part of the works, we have also had an entirely new classroom built. This room adjoins an assisted changing area, so has great access to the facilities that we need.”
“We have had a real increase in the number of reception age children and the additional space has allowed us to have a two form entry this year.”
“We are very happy to be a Local Authority maintained school, receiving great support.”
Cllr Janet Battye, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“Making these changes to the layout of classroom spaces within the school will have so many benefits for pupils and staff. Having additional breakout spaces will provide opportunities for more tailored learning for children’s individual needs and create the inclusive teaching environment we strive for in all of our schools.”
Cllr Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Assets, said:
“These updated classrooms will provide great facilities for children with Special Educational Needs. We invest heavily in schools as part of our annual capital programme budget and developments at this school show how building new extensions goes together with modernising and upgrading our existing buildings.”
