Tilbury Douglas has completed the construction of the SEMH Heights Academy, a new school in the West Midlands, ahead of schedule
The two-story SEMH Heights Academy, located in Solihull, has been built on the site of the former Bosworth Infant and Junior Schools.
The school will accommodate 116 students aged 7 to 16 who have an Educational and Health Care Plan for Autism along with associated Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
The school is optimised for SEMH needs
The school has a range of specialised features, such as calming rooms, sensory immersion rooms, soft playrooms, breakout areas, and a nurses’ station. The site also features separate and secure routes to ensure safe drop-offs.
The project was undertaken on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE).
“It is a great achievement from all those involved to be able to hand over the new facility, ahead of its planned completion date, to Forward Education Trust, which will no doubt deliver a high-quality learning environment for the students,” commented Simon Butler, managing director building central at Tilbury Douglas.
The SEMH Heights Academy was built with sustainability at the forefront
Tilbury Douglas achieves a 70% return on investment in terms of social value on the Heights Academy project.
This was achieved through a range of means, including:
- Over £4,000 worth of in-kind donations
- 15 weeks dedicated to work placements
- 60 weeks allocated to apprentice training
- 104 hours of educational support
- Saving of 10 tonnes of wood waste through community wood recycling efforts.
“The development of The Heights Academy is an important milestone for this Trust and for the children and parents in Solihull Borough. This is our second school development with Tilbury Douglas, having opened High Point Academy, Wednesbury, in September 2021,” said Simon Dilkes, chief executive officer at the Forward Education Trust.
“A school specifically designed to meet the needs of children will strongly support us in providing the best possible education and care for the children, significantly improving their life chances as they move to adulthood,” he concluded.
