Work has started to create a new sixth form college for Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) students in South Benfleet.
Once complete, Glenwood Sixth Form will offer 40 new places for SEND students in the area.
The £6.6 million project will see five classrooms, a dining space, catering training centre, meeting room, and specialised sensory rooms created. It will be an enriching environment for children with additional learning needs to enjoy.
We have appointed Morgan Sindall Construction as the contractor leading the project. On Friday 19 September, a groundbreaking event was held at the site. Invitees included council representatives, MP for Castlepoint, Rebecca Harris, and the Morgan Sindall project team.
The finished project is set to be complete in spring next year. It will include landscaping and small play areas. Works will also include creating a car park with 109 spaces, seven EV charging spots, three accessible spots, and eight additional mini bus spaces.
In line with our own and Morgan Sindall’s commitments to sustainability, Glenwood Sixth Form will be carbon net-zero in operation. It will be powered by PV panels on the roof and air source heat pumps.
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “The investment in a state-of-the-art sixth form facility at Glenwood reflects our firm commitment to supporting children and young people with special education needs in the county. The sixth form will provide a safe space for young people to learn, thrive, gain independence and build confidence for the future and create much needed additional SEND provision in South Essex.
“We’re hugely excited to see the project come to life and the positive impact it will have on the community.”
Ryan Liversage, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Essex, said: “We’re incredibly proud to break ground on the new Glenwood Sixth Form, which will provide a sustainable and inspiring environment for young people with additional needs. This project is about more than construction – it’s about creating spaces that will nurture learning, independence, and wellbeing, supporting SEN students for many years to come.”