A multimillion-pound school extension in Cheshire to create additional places for children with severe learning difficulties and complex needs has been completed.
The scheme by Salford-based MC Construction at Springfield School in Crewe will help address an urgent need for extra provision in the Cheshire East area, with demand at an all-time high.
MC Construction, working on behalf of longstanding client Cheshire East Council, built a wrap-around extension to the existing sports pavilion to create eight additional classrooms, new ancillary spaces including calm rooms, a sensory room and a therapy room, along with new hygiene suites and toilets, and improved kitchen facilities.
A ceremony to mark the official opening was attended by pupils, staff, MC Construction team members involved in the project, local councillors and Cllr Sally Graham, deputy mayor of Crewe.
Springfield School, whose motto is ‘Every day is a new chance to shine’, caters for pupils aged from four to 19 with severe learning difficulties and complex needs, including autism. It is rated as outstanding by Ofsted and was named 2022 School of the Year at the National Schools Awards.
The expansion of Springfield School increases its capacity from 170 to 250 pupils.
During the works at Springfield, MC Construction supported the school with a variety of social value initiatives. These included drawing competitions, creating a suite of awards to recognise pupil progress, environmental projects and the creation of a forest school area.
On Friday, October 25, a team of 16 volunteers from MC Construction, consultants who worked on the extension project and council representatives will take part in a volunteer day to work on the new forest school.
Lisa Hodgkison, headteacher at Springfield School, said: “Our new extension enables us to greatly improve and expand our educational provision for those children who require specialist support.
“We have moved our secondary and sixth-form pupils into the new block, creating more space in the main body of the school.
“This fantastic expansion offers our pupils new, larger classrooms and direct access to the sports facilities alongside a new food technology room. Pupils love the feel of the new high school and what it has to offer.”
Kim Cepeda-Wilson, head of school, who worked closely with MC Construction’s social values team, said: “It has been extremely gratifying to receive additional support from MC Construction for a variety of social value initiatives which enhance the school environment and learning for our pupils.
“Our children have benefited so much from the input of these initiatives and we couldn’t be more grateful to the team for their generosity throughout the project.”
Cllr Carol Bulman, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, said: “This project demonstrates our continued strong support for our most vulnerable children and their families, to ensure they can access the highest quality provision that meets their needs. Children from across the whole borough will benefit from these improvements to facilities at Springfield School.”
MC Construction’s contract with Cheshire East Council was procured through the North West Construction Hub framework.
Other recent schemes undertaken by MC Construction for the council have included a £3.3m refurbishment and extension project at Park Lane Special School in Macclesfield, an extension at Buglawton Primary School in Congleton to provide additional classroom space alongside external improvements, and the first phase of a multimillion-pound scheme to transform the civic and cultural quarter of Crewe town centre.
Russ Forshaw, managing director of MC Construction, said: “The completion of the scheme sees the school to embark on a new chapter and it’s a satisfying milestone for us. We are well aware as to how this project will enhance the environment for pupils and staff at Springfield School and benefit the region as a whole by creating more places.
“This has been a great partnership with Cheshire East and the school community. We are delighted with the completed scheme and are proud that it further enhances the pupil experience and the Springfield environment.”
The architect for the Springfield School extension was Halliday Meecham and the quantity surveyor was Currie & Brown.
Other professionals involved in the project included construction design and management adviser David Trowler Associates, mechanical, electrical and plumbing consultancy Davies Partnership and structural engineer Sutcliffe.
Pictured (left to right): Lisa Hodgkison, Kim Cepeda-Wilson, chair of governors David Griffith, Siobhan Murphy, business development manager at MC Construction, and Russ Forshaw, managing director of MC Construction