Bedfordshire school celebrates grand opening after Ingleton Wood secures £2.4 million grant Wednesday, 5th October 2022

Grange Academy in Bedfordshire is celebrating the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art teaching facilities.

Our Colchester team provided full multi-disciplinary construction consultancy services from inception through to completion of the classrooms, which feature environmentally sustainable heating systems, interactive white boards and large teaching spaces.

Ingleton Wood successfully secured £2.4 million of funding for the school through the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) grant to design and develop the new building. The much-needed new classrooms replaced 10 mobile classrooms that were inadequate and in disrepair.

Andrew Marchant, Senior Associate said: “We were delighted to secure such significant funding to replace dilapidated classrooms with a new, state-of-the art building suitable for the needs of pupils with additional needs. It’s rewarding to know hundreds of pupils will benefit from first-class facilities for years to come.”

Andrew attended the grand opening along with families and VIP guests, including former headteachers and staff. Luke Frost, member of local rugby team Bedford Blues, opened the new building in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Grange Academy is a special needs school run by Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust (BILTT). The school supports pupils aged 5-16 with a diverse range of learning needs, including moderate learning difficulties, autism and medical and physical needs.

Catherine Assink, BILTT CEO and former Academy Grange Headteacher, said: “At what is arguably an unprecedented time of flux in our lives and history, special schools like Grange Academy are holding up a lantern of inclusiveness and hope.

“They are beacons of unity, of us working together as one for the benefit of everyone, no matter who we are or where we come from. The new classrooms will help achieve this through decent teaching spaces that will help the school go from strength to strength.”

Rachel Timms, Headteacher at Grange Academy added: “Grange is a special place for both staff and pupils and we are thrilled to be enhancing the opportunities we are able to provide for our young people.”

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