We have successfully delivered another school under the Department for Education’s (DfE) Free Schools Programme.

The Axis Academy in Crewe, Cheshire East is one of several projects we have delivered under the DfE’s framework and will provide 48 pupils with the space and facilities to learn in a safe and welcoming environment.

A specialist SEND school, the building has been designed with children’s educational and wellbeing requirements in mind and meets both the DfE’s Output Specification and SEND specification requirements. The academy has educational capacity with 7 classrooms as well as practical workshops for D&T and food tech, and meets leisure requirements with a multi-use games area.

It is absolutely fantastic to be finally in the new building. The students were lost for words when they saw their new school for the first time, and were amazed at the classrooms and the quality of the facilities on offer to them. Students are now settled into their school, and have commented on how happy they are with their new learning environment and how it encourages them to concentrate and learn.

This ties in with my ethos that children with special educational needs deserve the same opportunities in life as every other child and that our ultimate aim is to prepare children to be successful adults who go on to live happy lives. This is a much-needed SEN provision that will go on to change the lives of SEN children for many years to come.

Emma Colley, Headteacher, The Axis Academy

We are really pleased to see the handover of this new special school in Cheshire East, one of the 19 Local Authority commissioned schemes launched in 2018.

The school opened its doors in January and took just over a year to build. This is an excellent resource for the area and the new school will provide opportunities for those students out of education or those who are not coping within the mainstream setting.

Led by The Youth Engagement Trust, the school will offer a curriculum with a focus on vocational, well-being and academic subjects which reflects the academic and emotional needs of every student.

Delivery Team within Free Schools Capital, Department for Education

Gareth Wagstaffe, DfE Framework Manager, Henry Boot Construction said: "We are proud to have delivered The Axis Academy for the DfE. A high level of communication between all stakeholders provided a supportive and positive working environment. These relationships played a big part in the success of the project and the result is a secure, friendly, and much needed SEND school for the local area. I’m sure the children will enjoy and thrive in this great new facility and environment."

We have extensive experience delivering public sector educational facilities across the North of England. The DfE framework is one of a number of public sectors frameworks that we have secured a key position on. More information about what we do is available here or contact us.