Building Southern makes a start on Endeavour Co-operative Academy  

Galliford Try’s Building Southern business has started work under a £16.8m contract to build Endeavour Co-operative Academy in Brentwood, Essex.

The contract will provide a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) School for 120 pupils aged four to 16 years with a range of Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD), adjacent to the current site for the Keys Co-operative Academy Trust, an educational charity formed by a co-operative of special and alternative provision schools.

The new school will feature a two-storey block, Multi Use Game Areas (MUGA), informal playground area and an unmarked playing field. As part of the design, air source heat pumps, a green roof, and extensive photovoltaic (PV) panelling will be included to achieve Net Zero Carbon in Operation (NZCiO).

Delivered on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE), the design aligns with the school's educational vision that students should gain an education that encourages independence and practical life skills alongside a well-rounded curriculum.

Gavin Bridge, Managing Director of Galliford Try Building Southern, commented: “Our business has a strong track record in providing high-quality SEND school buildings across the southern region. We look forward to working with the DfE and Keys Co-operative Academy Trust to deliver the first-class bespoke facilities their students deserve.”

Galliford Try’s Education Director Claire Jackson, said: “We’re really pleased to be working with Keys Co-operative Academy Trust and the Endeavour Co-operative Academy, this project adds to our growing portfolio of SEND Schools and we continue to learn from our projects through our Post Occupancy Evaluation process which helps us to gain the insights required to create the best environments to meet students’ needs.”