Building works at our new state-of-the-art academy for children with special educational needs (SEN) are nearing completion.
Horizons Academy is due to be completed in November, with the first students set to step through the doors in spring 2026.
Nottinghamshire county councillors and partners gathered at the new academy in Mansfield on Wednesday 6 August to celebrate this latest milestone and to see progress on site.
Diverse Academies will run the purpose-built academy, which is being built on the former Ravensdale School site and will have capacity for up to 160 pupils across the seven to 19 years age range.
Horizons will provide a specialist learning environment for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. This forms part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s commitment to create up to 490 additional SEN school places by 2026, to help address the growing demand for more specialist school places across the county.
County council leader, Councillor Mick Barton, said: “It is brilliant news that the new SEN school is nearly finished. The council is committed to improving school places for children with special needs and this is positive news. The school is also regenerating an important area of Mansfield with a top of the range facility which will last for generations.
“I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while building work has taken place.
“I look forward to returning in November and I look forward to visiting for the opening of this facility. Thank you to Arc Partnership and Morgan Sindall Group for all their hard work on the project.”
Cat Thornton, chief education officer at Diverse Academies Trust said it has been fantastic to see work progressing on site.
She said: “This marks an exciting milestone for Mansfield and the surrounding communities. Horizons Academy will provide a modern, inspiring learning environment for young people with specialist needs, and seeing the development take shape brings our shared vision one step closer to reality.”