Official Opening Celebration for Wembley Manor
15 January 2026Breaking new ground: the industrialised approach to delivering outstanding SEND and SEMH schools
By Joe Shepherd, Managing Director – Public Sector, Reds10
As the demand for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) school places continues to grow across the UK, the need for high-quality, specialist educational environments is more urgent than ever. As leader in industrialised construction, Reds10 is meeting this challenge head-on with an innovative, collaborative, and sustainable approach to school delivery, pushing the boundaries of what industrialised construction can achieve.
From the Isle of Sheppey to Brent and Barking, Reds10 has been redefining what’s possible in SEND and SEMH school design and construction. Each school represents a unique challenge but also a unique opportunity to create environments that foster growth, independence, and well-being.
Nore Academy, Isle of Sheppey: SEMH firsts and flexible solutions
Nore Academy marks a significant milestone as the first SEMH school on the Isle of Sheppey, addressing a critical gap in local provision for 120 secondary students. Prior to its opening, students with SEMH needs faced long journeys to the mainland for education, adding strain to already complex learning journeys.
Delivered in partnership with the Alternative Learning Trust (ALT), Nore Academy was co-located on a live primary school site and adjacent to a new Alternative Provision (AP) school - Estuary Academy - requiring intricate planning and phased construction to minimise disruption. Reds10 rose to the challenge, employing a flexible off-site volumetric solution enhanced beyond Department for Education (DfE) specifications. This ensured not only faster delivery but greater adaptability for the specific needs of SEMH pupils.
Despite a late change in school trust just three months before handover, the project was delivered successfully, demonstrating the value of close collaboration and agile project management. Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) findings continue to highlight the effectiveness of the design in supporting student well-being and learning outcomes.
Wembley Manor, Brent: Setting New Sustainability Standards
In Brent, demand for SEND places has risen by 10% annually for over a decade. Wembley Manor SEND School, a £22 million project delivered by Reds10, is addressing that need by creating 150 new places in a facility that’s as ambitious for sustainability as it is for educational impact.
Constructed using 121 units, manufactured at our off-site facility in East Yorkshire, the three-storey school is the largest of its kind Reds10 has delivered. The modular solution enabled construction to proceed swiftly, with the project tracking ahead of schedule and with minimal impact to the surrounding community.
The project is set to achieve BREEAM Outstanding, with a 98.9 design stage score - one of the highest ever for a SEND school. Further, it secured a perfect 45/45 rating from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) and is nominated for a national CCS award. As a future-proofed, ultra-sustainable learning environment, Wembley Manor stands as a national benchmark in both SEND education and green construction.
Pathways, Oak Tree and Compass Schools: A collaborative design ethos
Our collaboration with HLM Architects has resulted in a series of successful SEND and SEMH schools that combine industrialised construction with inclusive, human-centred design. These schools go beyond functionality, they’re emotionally intelligent environments tailored to the cognitive, behavioural, and social needs of their users.
Pathways School in Barking and Dagenham, serving 90 SEMH pupils, showcases how difficult brownfield sites can be transformed into vibrant centres of learning. The school includes therapy rooms, sensory spaces, vocational learning areas and calm zones - each designed with colour theory and progression mapping to reduce anxiety and support transition.
Oak Tree School in Wokingham, a 3,650 sqm all-through school for pupils with SEMH needs and Autism Spectrum Conditions, benefited from the units arriving 85% complete. The result was rapid on-site assembly, lower embodied carbon, and minimal disruption, all while delivering calm, resilient spaces conducive to specialist learning.
At The Compass School in Havering, the approach was taken even further with units delivered 87% complete. The result is a robust, low-maintenance school that integrates SMART building technology and sensory-responsive design.
In all these projects, sample modules were built and tested during the design phase, allowing real-time feedback and refinement by school leaders before full manufacturing commenced - an approach that ensured fit-for-purpose results.
Why industrialised construction is key to future SEND provision
Reds10’s vertically integrated model - from design and manufacture to installation and fit-out - delivers unmatched control over cost, time, and quality. But it’s our philosophy that truly sets us apart: every SEND or SEMH school is seen not as a product of standardisation, but as a unique, bespoke space that reflects the needs of its pupils, staff, and community.
We don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’ modular schools. Instead, our mission is to create amazing spaces where pupils with complex needs can feel safe, supported and inspired to thrive. That means designing not just for today’s requirements, but with flexibility and future resilience built in.
With projects like Nore Academy and Wembley Manor setting the bar higher than ever, Reds10 is not just building schools but shaping the future of inclusive education, one module at a time.