News

3 May 2012

All Smiles at New Sheffield School!

We are pleased to announce the recent opening of the state-of-the-art £7 million building which now houses both Woolley Wood SEN and Mansel Primary Schools in the north of Sheffield.

Jefferson Sheard worked with Kier and the Sheffield City Council to develop a design for the co-location of both schools. The two schools are now integrated together onto one single site, embracing both able-bodied and disabled pupils from across the city in a main-stream primary school with specialised facilities.

Dean Linkhorn, Head Teacher of Woolley Wood School, commented “Woolley Wood School has been a special school in Shiregreen for over thirty years. However, during this time, the school has been housed in a building that was never originally designed for our pupils, many of whom have physical difficulties. The new school has many features that will enhance the work that the staff do with the children. There are hoists in each classroom, a rebound therapy room, sensory room, soft-play room and hydrotherapy pool. The needs of the children have been at the centre of the design with wide corridors and plenty of storage space for mobility equipment.”

Work has been carried out in phases so that the school was able to stay fully operational for the duration of the build and was completed on time to welcome all 500 students in April 2012. The school has been equipped with design features and facilities to accommodate the needs of pupils with severe and complex learning difficulties, including an interactive sensory room and a hydrotherapy pool.

We have designed the school to provide an improved environment for increasing numbers of wheelchair users and to facilitate a mutually supportive relationship between Woolley Wood and Mansel Schools.

More than just a new school building, this resource provides high quality facilities to pupils of all abilities and enables social integration as well as offering additional facilities for the wider community.