With construction well underway on Two Bridges Academy, the new Special Educational Needs Disabilities school in Alveston, local MP Luke Hall visited the site to discuss the progress.
Having pushed Ministers for funding for the new school in November 2018 (1) , and pushing the Council to approve the development (2), Luke has been working with the Department of Education and closely following this Government-funded project, which is set to boost local SEND provision across South Gloucestershire.
Meeting with representatives of Enable Trust, the Department for Education, the Strategic Lead for SEND in South Gloucestershire, and the Academy’s Leadership Team, Luke discussed the rapid progress which is being made, with the new school expected to be completed by the middle of August. This is with a view to the school then being set to open in September 2024, with an expected 40 pupils in its first intake.
A key part of Luke’s Positive Plan for Schools and Education, the Two Bridges Academy will be a new free school to support pupils aged 2 – 19 years old, with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties, and for pupils with severe learning difficulties and autism. Enable Trust have confirmed the school will be providing places from nursery to 6th form, with approximately 90 specialist staff.
Sited next door to Marlwood School, the building and grounds will include access to specialist provision including physiotherapy, indoor and outdoor sports facilities with a hydrotherapy pool, and purpose-built changing facilities.
Luke Hall said, “This has been a real team effort between Enable Trust, ISG Construction, the Department for Education, the Council, our local education experts and the Academy’s future leadership team, who together have all helped to deliver this exciting new school.”
“Many thanks as well go to Marlwood School and CSET for allowing the construction to go so smoothly, and I am delighted that we are on track to deliver this important facility for South Gloucestershire”.
