Work has started on a £6 million school expansion in South Cumbria.
The work at Sandgate School in Kendal will see four new classrooms, a new sports hall and changing rooms.
Sandgate is a special school for children and young people between the ages of three and 19 years old, which operates a satellite campus at The Queen Katherine School, with inclusion of pupils in Key Stage 4 and 5 currently taking place at the main site.
The funding, provided by Westmorland and Furness Council, will expand the Sandgate School satellite campus at The Queen Katherine School to include pupils in Key Stage 3. This means all secondary age pupils can learn on the same site. The development will also increase the overall capacity of Sandgate School.
Architects Plus has developed the design for the project and F Parkinson Ltd is the contractor. Work is expected to continue until autumn next year.
Jon Hayes, headteacher at The Queen Katherine School, said: “This development is a positive enhancement for the students at both Sandgate and The Queen Katherine School.
“The co-location already brings benefits for both sets of students and this expansion will build upon the many years of successful collaboration that have gone before.
“Our aim at QKS is to provide the best and broadest possible educational experience for all our young people and having Sandgate students as part of our community is a key part of that philosophy.”
Daniel Hinton, headteacher at Sandgate School, said: “The Sandgate community is so pleased to have the new build on its way. We are a growing school, with increasing need across Westmorland and our catchment.
“These new facilities will give our students a school that is fit for purpose and able to cope with the demands of a modern curriculum. It is a pleasure to work so closely with QKS, this build puts us both on the map to be able to deliver a fully inclusive offer.”
