The project.
The Beacon Satellite Provision in Walmer, Deal was developed to provide a specialist educational environment, tailored to students requiring additional support outside of mainstream setting.
The scheme involved the delivery of a purpose-designed facility incorporating specialist teaching spaces, breakout areas, therapy and support spaces, alongside carefully considered external environments to support both learning and wellbeing.
The design carefully prioritised a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces to create a calm and supportive educational setting.
Project Complexity
Live Educational Environment: The project required careful coordination around an operational school environment and neighbouring community uses.
Specialist Educational Requirements: The facility needed to respond sensitively to the needs of the students requiring additional support, with spaces carefully designed around wellbeing, behaviour management, sensory considerations and safeguarding requirements.
Tight Delivery Programme: The programme was aligned with academic year requirements, which required close coordination with the client, contractor and consultant team to ensure the facility was operational in time for student occupation.
Our Role
Acting as Quantity Surveyor, Employers Agent and Clerk of Work agents, we provided cost planning, procurement advice, tender evaluation, risk management, contract administration and change control, keeping the scheme within strict funding parameters without compromising on design quality.
This scheme was delivered successfully, to meet the operational needs of the school and wider education authority, providing a high-quality specialist learning environment within agreed budget and programme parameters. The design now successfully helps to enhance the learning environment for the students whilst also improving wellbeing and inclusion as the design promotes calm, safety an engagement using natural light, breakout spaces and welcoming materials and strong connections to external areas.
Increasing Specialist Provision Capacity
Improving the facilities for The Beacon contributes toward addressing increasing regional demand for SEND and alternative provision facilities, supporting more students within an appropriate educational environment.
The Beacon satellite Provision now provides a safe, inclusive and future focused educational environment that supports the students, staff and the wider community.
