Work begins on new special school Two Bridges Academy near Thornbury

Specialist school Two Bridges Academy, located on Vattingstone Lane in Alveston next to Marlwood School, will have approximately 112 spaces for pupils. 

Places will be available for children and young people from nursery to sixth form who have severe, profound, or multiple learning difficulties, as well as students who have severe learning difficulties and autism.

A breaking ground ceremony was held on Friday, May 5 to celebrate the start of the project.

Works are expected to finish later next year and should eventually open in September 2024.

The building and grounds will include access to specialist provision including physiotherapy, indoor and outdoor sports facilities with a hydrotherapy pool, and purpose-built changing facilities.

The school will be net zero carbon, so sustainability has been a big factor in the design and build, including using roofs to generate electricity using photovoltaic panels. 

The project is a collaboration between Enable Trust, with the Department for Education, ISG Construction, South Gloucestershire Council, and Thornbury Grammar School Trust.

An artist's impression of the school's main entrance (Image: Enable Trust)

Andrew Buckton, Enable Trust CEO said: “A lot of earth has now literally been moved, and thanks to so many people working together, mountains have been moved to see the clear vision ahead!”

“That vision is brilliant – a new and much needed special school to fully meet childrens’ complex needs, an outward facing supportive centre of expertise to strengthen special educational needs and disability provision in this part of the South West, and partnership  working to enhance Enable Trust’s impact on supporting special educational needs and disability locally and regionally.”

Dave Tubb, chair of Enable Trust said: “The Board are very encouraged to see this exciting project commence and to be involved in providing excellent and amazing facilities for our pupils education.”

Whole group photo of representatives from the Enable Trust, ISG Construction and Two Bridges Academy at the site on Vattingstone Lane (Image: Enable Trust)