Slough school opens new classrooms amid £4m council investment
Without the expansion at Arbour Vale, the council said it would have needed to place pupils in out-of-area schools
Arbour Vale School in Slough has officially opened a new modular building, providing four classrooms and 32 additional places for pupils with special educational needs, following a £4m investment by the borough council.
The development was launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by school staff, council representatives, governors and contractors. This project also added a new car park on the school grounds.
Demand for special school places in Slough has increased year on year. Without the expansion at Arbour Vale, the council said it would have needed to place pupils in out-of-area schools.
According to principal Neil Sykes, pupils had already moved into the new classrooms and were “settling in well”.
The single-storey timber-clad building includes four classrooms equipped with smart screens, air conditioning and other technology designed to meet pupils’ sensory needs. It also features washrooms and a dedicated play area.
Cllr Dexter Smith, leader of Slough Borough Council, described the scheme as a “partnership project”.
Smith said: “We were lucky to find a partner in Arbour Vale School who were willing to step up to the challenges of doing something very significant in a short time scale.”
John Prior, chief executive of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, which runs the school, added: “Facilities like these make it easier, so we are incredibly grateful for the support.”
Dr John Wise, chair of the school’s local governing body, thanked staff for their support and said the school community should be “proud of the end result”.
Guests were also invited to tour the new facilities and meet Berkshire Birds of Prey, who run regular sessions with pupils.