Pictured, from left, are Wayne Bexton, Director of Economy, Environment and Assets; Cllr James Walker-Gurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management; Cllr Hana John, Cabinet Member for Education & SEND, Cllr Mick Barton, Council Leader; Peter McConnochie, Director of Education, Learning and Inclusion; Cllr Kevin Brown, Divisional Member for Mansfield South; Cllr Rory Green, Cabinet Member for Children and Families and Cllr Martin Wright, Divisional Member for Mansfield East.

A new state-of-the-art school being built in Mansfield for children with special educational needs (SEN) is due to be completed in November.

Nottinghamshire county councillors and partners gathered at the new Horizons Academy in the town on Wednesday (6 August) to celebrate the school nearing completion.

Diverse Academies Trust will run the purpose-built school, which is being built on the former Ravensdale School site and will have capacity for up to 160 pupils across the seven to 19 years age range. 
Due to open by spring 2026, it will provide a specialist learning environment for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. 

This forms part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s commitment to create up to 490 additional SEN school places by 2026 to help address the growing demand for more specialist school places across the county. 

The county council’s property services have commissioned and facilitated the project, which is being designed and cost-managed by Arc Partnership – a joint venture between the authority and SCAPE – with construction undertaken by Morgan Sindall Construction. 

County council leader, Councillor Mick Barton, said: “It is brilliant news that the new SEN school is nearly finished. 

“The council is committed to improving school places for children with special needs and this is positive news. The school is also regenerating an important area of Mansfield with a top of the range facility which will last for generations.

“I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while building work has taken place.

“I look forward to returning in November and I look forward to visiting for the opening of this facility. Thank you to Arc Partnership and Morgan Sindall Group for all their hard work on the project.”

Dan Maher, Managing Director at Arc Partnership, hailed the ‘significant progress’ that has been made on the £30 million project. 

He said: “The school will be a positive addition to the community, helping to deliver much-needed SEN school places in the area and Arc Partnership is proud to have supported this positive project by designing, project and cost managing the build. 

“The design centres on creating a calming learning environment that supports social, emotional, and mental health needs, while our close working relationship with Morgan Sindall and the council will ensure the school delivers real value for the community.”

Cat Thornton, Chief Education Officer, Diverse Academies Trust, said it has been fantastic to see work progressing on site for Horizons Academy. 

She said: “This marks an exciting milestone for Mansfield and the surrounding communities. Horizons Academy will provide a modern, inspiring learning environment for young people with specialist needs, and seeing the development take shape brings our shared vision one step closer to reality.”