Baytree SEND School, Clevedon 

Overview

The Baytree School, Clevedon is a purpose-built Special Educational Needs (SEN) school, delivering an inclusive and accessible environment for up to 85 pupils with complex physical and learning difficulties.

Commissioned by North Somerset Council, the new school meets the region’s growing need for high-quality SEN provision, ensuring that children with profound additional needs have access to bespoke educational, therapeutic, and sensory facilities in a modern, purpose-built environment.

Constructed over 87 weeks, the two-storey building was delivered on time and to budget through the SCAPE Major Works England and Northern Ireland Framework. Designed and built with Level 2 BIM compliance, the project combines traditional masonry with steel-framed SFS construction, creating a robust, future-ready educational setting.

Project Delivery & Challenges Overcome

Delivering a highly specialised SEN school presented unique challenges, including the integration of complex mechanical systems, strict health and safety standards, and high levels of user consultation. Key strategies included:

• Collaborative engagement with educators, therapists, and local authority representatives, ensuring the building design reflected the diverse and complex needs of its users.
• Careful sequencing of works on a constrained site, requiring detailed risk assessments and access planning to protect the local community and future school users.
• Enhanced fire safety and sensory design standards, including low-stimulus colour schemes, anti-ligature fixtures, and acoustic treatment throughout.
• Adoption of a traditional masonry superstructure, providing durability, thermal mass, and compatibility with the therapeutic needs of non-ambulant pupils.

The project team also worked with a range of mandated supply chain partners, ensuring high-quality finishes and consistency with North Somerset’s design standards.

Key Features & Educational Benefits

The Baytree School provides a safe, calming, and highly adaptable environment tailored to children with severe and multiple learning difficulties (SLD and PMLD), delivering:

• Specialist classrooms with ceiling hoists, sensory lighting, and dedicated breakout areas.
• Therapy rooms and medical spaces, supporting physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
• A hydrotherapy pool for physical development and rehabilitation.
• Calming sensory rooms, equipped to provide multi-sensory stimulation or retreat.
• Outdoor learning and play spaces, with full accessibility and a focus on motor development and sensory exploration.
• High acoustic performance and low-stimulation design, promoting student comfort and engagement.

These features ensure that every pupil can access a tailored learning journey in a safe, nurturing environment.

Sustainability & Environmental Commitment

The project incorporated a series of sustainability measures in line with North Somerset Council’s environmental targets and Willmott Dixon’s own ‘Now or Never’ strategy:

• BIM Level 2 design and coordination, improving efficiency and reducing material waste.
• High-performance insulation and energy-efficient glazing, reducing heat loss and operational energy usage.
• Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to manage surface water and protect local biodiversity.
• Use of durable, low-maintenance materials, increasing building lifespan and minimising lifecycle costs.
• Mandated supply chain components, ensuring ethical sourcing and compliance with environmental standards.

The design ensures that the school is efficient to run, easy to maintain, and resilient against climate-related risks.

Social Value & Community Impact

The Baytree School project was delivered with a strong focus on local impact, community engagement, and long-term value creation:

• Employment and training opportunities provided for local apprentices and subcontractors.
• Strong partnership with North Somerset Council, helping to shape local education and infrastructure strategy.
• Engagement with parents, carers, and local SEND groups, ensuring the school reflects the values and needs of the community it serves.

This investment not only provides a modern school building, but a space where pupils, families, and staff feel welcomed, supported, and empowered.

Client Feedback

"This new building transforms what’s possible for our children. The team truly listened to what families and educators needed and have delivered a school that exceeds expectations. It’s a facility that offers comfort, dignity, and aspiration."
— North Somerset Council Representative