‘There’s no doubt this building has the wow factor’
The building was officially opened with a ribbon cutting by cllr Linda Tock (bottom right), the council’s portfolio holder for children’s service, alongside The Boulevard Academy’s headteacher, Steve Fenna (bottom left).(Image: Hull City Council)
A new space to help special educational needs (SEND) students has been launched at The Boulevard Academy in Hull. A self-contained modular building featuring two classrooms, breakout areas, specialist teaching spaces, staff areas and toilets has been constructed at the school on Airlie Street.
It will support up to 25 secondary age students with a range of additional needs including social, emotional and mental health (SEMH). Provision there is designed to give students access to mainstream curriculum alongside targeted specialist support for their learning and wellbeing.
Hull City Council says the new facility is part of its commitment to meeting SEND requirements in the city, and will also create further specialist teaching roles in the city. The building was recently opened by Cllr Linda Tock, the council’s portfolio holder for children’s service, alongside The Boulevard Academy’s headteacher, Steve Fenna.
Cllr Tock said: “It was a real privilege to be invited to The Boulevard Academy and to officially open the building. It’s a really spacious and modern facility, a wonderful environment for the children to learn. Talking to them, they love it and it appears they’re already settled.
“I’m proud and thankful for the team which has come together to construct this fantastic provision.”
Mr Fenna added: “The children in this setting will really thrive thanks for specialist support from staff, not only catering to their learning needs, but also their emotional needs too. Like all schools within the Thrive Trust, we really do value and emphasise an inclusive approach and this new unit allows those students to continue their education in a mainstream school.
“One thing we’ll take from it was that as part of the build project, the builders work specifically with a couple of SEND students who have an interest in the construction industry which was a really nice touch. We’re thankful to have been in partnership with the council and their contractors to have this great modular build which is sympathetic to our existing school site.
“There’s no doubt this building has the wow factor and it’s a really exciting time for The Boulevard Academy as we move to the forefront of SEND provision within Hull.” Work on the facility was carried out by Hull Esteem Consortium LEP and contractors Sewell Construction.
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