Breaking Ground on a New Chapter for Inclusive Education
Work is now under way on a brand new SEND extension at Ashley High School. The project will deliver four modern purpose built classrooms designed to enhance learning opportunities for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This development marks an important step in supporting the school’s continued growth as a leading specialist education provider.
Celebrating the Start of Construction
To mark the beginning of the project we were joined yesterday by representatives from Halton Borough Council school leaders and project partners for a Breaking Ground Ceremony. The event brought together everyone involved to celebrate the start of a scheme that will make a significant difference to local young people and their families.
Expanding Capacity for Local Pupils
The new extension will increase the school’s capacity from 112 to 152 pupils. This expansion will strengthen Ashley High School’s role as a key community facility and ensure that more young people can access high quality local specialist education. The additional space will support inclusive learning help meet increasing demand across the borough and create an improved environment for both staff and students.
A Project Close to Home
Reflecting on the start of the development Deputy Managing Director Gareth Hadfield said:
“We are honoured to return to Ashley High School a decade after delivering the sixth form block and proud to once again play a part in enhancing the learning environment for its students. Being located just two miles from the site this project holds special significance for us as a local contractor. The new extension reflects our continued commitment to supporting inclusive education and delivering high quality spaces that empower young people. It is a privilege to contribute to a facility that plays such a vital role in our community.”
Acknowledging Strong Community Support
We were delighted to be joined by Cllr Mike Wharton Leader of Halton Borough Council The Mayor of Halton Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones Cllr Tom McInerney Board Member for Children and Young People Zoe Fearon Executive Director of Children’s Services and Ben Holmes Director of Education Inclusion and Provision. A special thank you goes to Ashley High School staff for their warm welcome and to Gizmo the school dog who helped make the day even more memorable.
Looking Ahead
This project represents an important investment in inclusive education for the region and we are proud to be contributing to its delivery. We look forward to sharing progress as the new spaces take shape and watching the positive impact they will bring to pupils families and the wider community.