Morgan Sindall celebrates handover of new Nottinghamshire SEN school
Morgan Sindall Construction has successfully completed and handed over Horizons Academy, a new state-of-the-art, specialist educational needs (SEN) school in Mansfield.
Managed by the Diverse Academies Trust (DAT), the £30 million school will provide a dedicated learning environment for up to 160 children with special educational needs. It features four teaching blocks corresponding to each key stage, creating a ‘small school’ setting for the pupils aged 7 and 19.
The school also forms part of Nottinghamshire County Council's wider strategy to address the increasing demand for specialist school places by ensuring they have access to the support and facilities they need to thrive.
To celebrate the successful completion of the project, a handover ceremony was held with Cllr Mick Barton, Nottinghamshire County Council Leader, fellow councillors, plus representatives from Diverse Academies Trust, and Arc Partnership – a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE.
The completed facility now features state-of-the-art learning spaces, each with adjacent sensory zones and calm areas equipped with specialist lighting, and thermally controlled heating, all specifically designed to support pupils with special educational needs.
Alongside this, a range of hands‑on and vocational rooms - including art, science, fitness, and Design & Technology spaces - have been created to help pupils develop practical, transferable skills that build independence, confidence and everyday life beyond the classroom.
The provision of large and varied outdoor areas was crucial in supporting pupils’ wellbeing and development. The school therefore benefits from a large external play area, including two all-weather pitches with associated sports storage buildings, a tarmac multiuse games area, fitness equipment and natural wooden play spaces. As part of the handover, Morgan Sindall donated a range of play equipment, including a full-sized pool table, scooters and gokarts, for pupils.
Designed and cost-managed by Arc Partnership, the project has had a significant positive impact on the local area. Close to 56% of the project’s workforce was sourced locally, helping to support regional employment and skills development.
The scheme also generated an estimated £11 million in Social Value Return, alongside the delivery of 560 apprentice weeks, 139 volunteering hours, and 86 hours of school engagement, reinforcing Morgan Sindall’s commitment to creating long-term benefits for the communities in which it works.
Sustainability also remained at the forefront of the project. Working in collaboration with Arc Partnership, Morgan Sindall helped achieve a substantial reduction in embodied carbon through the selection of a Structural Insulated Panel System (SIPS) over of a traditional steel frame, without impacting on project costs. In total, this approach delivered a saving of more than 750 tonnes of CO2e from the design – the equivalent of heating 280 UK homes annually.
Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said:
We're incredibly proud to have successfully delivered Horizons Academy, especially on a project where children with social, emotional, and mental health needs will now get the much-needed support they need to learn and be inspired.
This project also marks our continued and significant collaboration with Arc Partnership, having successfully delivered more than 1,500 new school places to date.”
Councillor Mick Barton, County Council Leader, said:
Horizons Academy is such an impressive, top of the range facility and is helping regenerate an important area of Mansfield which will benefit many generations to come. We are committed to improving facilities and creating more places for children with special educational needs, which is why we have more investment on its way for this area.”
David Cotton, Chief Executive Officer, of Diverse Academies Trust, said:
This flagship development for the Mansfield community delivers specialist, high quality provision for learners with additional needs in a state of the art setting designed to inspire and support every young person. This academy offers an exceptional environment where students can thrive, grow in confidence, and achieve beyond their aspirations.”
Dan Maher, Managing Director at Arc Partnership, said:
We’re delighted to see the completion of Horizons Academy, as part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s plan to deliver additional SEN school places across the county. Designing a calming learning environment for students with specialist needs was central to our approach and it is fantastic to see students now benefitting from the state-of-the-art learning facilities. The academy will support many students and deliver real value for the community for many years to come.”
ENDS
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