Cleeve Meadow School

Cleeve Meadow School is new special free school providing education for 120 pupils, aged 11 upwards, with learning difficulties and sensory impairments. In addition to teaching areas, there is also a therapy hub, performing arts centre and full-sized MUGA. It is co-located  with a mainstream secondary school, which shares the performance and sports facilities.

The school was one of the first projects procured through the Department for Education (DfE) Construction Framework 2017 and with an urgent need for SEND places in London Borough of Bexley, a challenging programme for delivery was required.  We worked with Bexley and their Planning Department from day one, to cut the standard DfE client engagement and planning periods from 14 to just 8 weeks.

We were able to start on site just 26 weeks after the initial Pre Construction award, a 24% saving on the standard pre-construction phase timescales.

SEND schools require innovative design solutions to respond to end user requirements. At Cleeve Meadow School the design by Pozzoni Architecture focussed on experiences of Hyper Sensitivity and high levels of anxiety and included; learning spaces designed to minimise anxiety and enhance self-esteem and confidence, with safe areas attached to help pupils feel calm and relaxed, a central courtyard to provide a calming space for sheltered outdoor therapy/ learning and a glazed circulation route around the courtyard for views, enclosed access and enhanced orientation.