Imjin Barracks SLA
4 January 2024
The Compass School
22 February 2024

Oak Tree SEN School

Project Details

  • Reds10 delivered a turnkey modular solution for the 3,650 m2 all through school in Winnersh, as part of the Department for Education (DfE)’s £3bn ‘Off-site Schools Framework’.
  • The building will accommodate 150 pupils with a Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) and/or Autism Spectrum Condition diagnosis from the boroughs of Reading and Wokingham.
  • 87% completed off-site (2% higher than our commitment on the framework).

Oak Tree SEN School is a 3,650 m2 school catering for primary and secondary pupils from Reading and Wokingham boroughs with a Social, Emotional, and Mental Health and/or Autism Spectrum Condition diagnosis.

The all through school, which is operated by Maiden Erlegh Trustp, will accommodate 150 local pupils, providing much needed SEN spaces for the boroughs.

Reds10 was appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) as principal contractor to design and build the school, which is part of the DfE’s ‘Off-site Schools Framework’. The Framework was established in 2020, as part of the Government’s drive for greater adoption of MMC to modernise the industry and increase efficiencies, cost savings and innovation within capital building programmes.

The two-storey building includes:

  • appropriate classrooms
  • x2 dining halls
  • changing rooms
  • therapy and calm rooms
  • specialist teaching spaces including a science studio, food tech room, art & design studio' music/drama studio, ‘get ready to learn’ space and life-skills area
  • multi-use hall
  • sixth form common areas
  • external formal and informal play areas including a MUGA and sports field
  • car parking and dedicated drop off areas

The external materials consist of a muted, natural palette and were selected to both respond to the local context and create a distinct identity for the school that is open and welcoming. All the materials are hard-wearing and will weather well, providing the school with a high quality yet low maintenance building.

Like all Reds10 buildings, the school includes SMART building technology, which allows Reds10 and the school to analyse energy usage and production, generating accurate data to ensure that the building is operated at maximum energy efficiency going forward.

Reds10 employed Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) with units arriving to site 85% complete, from their East Yorkshire factory. MMC directly benefits the delivery of school construction projects, through reduced embodied carbon, quicker delivery programmes and less trades on site, which minimises disruption.

Construction on the building completed at the end of the summer holidays, with the school’s doors opening for the 2023/4 school year. An official opening was held in September 2023 attended by representatives from the School, DfE, Maiden Erlegh Trust, Reds10, Wokingham Borough Council, Reading Council and invited guests.

  • Cllr Prue Bray, Executive Member for Children’s Services
    “The opening of Oak Tree School is a great addition to Wokingham borough, providing much needed spaces for our children with SEND. We are really pleased to have the school as part of our growing portfolio of special school places and look forward to continuing to work with colleagues at Reading Borough Council and Maiden Erlegh Trust so that children with SEND and their families have access to high quality, local spaces."
    Cllr Prue Bray, Executive Member for Children’s Services
    Wokingham Borough Council
  • Ruth McEwan, Lead Councillor for Education and Public Health
    “The number of children with SEND has increased significantly in Reading over recent years, as is the case in neighbouring authorities. It is really important we develop partnerships like this one so that more Reading children can receive the specialist education they need closer to home.”
    Ruth McEwan, Lead Councillor for Education and Public Health
    Reading Borough Council
  • Brian Grady, Reading's Director of Education
    "The additional school places created for local children with additional needs at Oak Tree School are much needed and very welcome. We are delighted to have worked with the various partner organisations towards the opening of this modern new school which boasts so many excellent facilities for our children and young people.”
    Brian Grady, Reading's Director of Education
    Brighter Futures for Children
  • Jonathon Peck, Chief Executive Officer
    “It has been a privilege to have played a part in the development of this school from conception through to where we are today, and I look forward to seeing the school grow and flourish over the coming years. It must be recognised that developing a community facility such as this is very much a team effort and I would like to acknowledge the contributions made by everyone involved.”
    Jonathon Peck, Chief Executive Officer
    Maiden Erlegh Trust
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