Arc Partnership joined Nottinghamshire County Council councillors and project partners at the new Horizons Academy to celebrate the school nearing completion.

Due to open by spring 2026, the school will provide a specialist learning environment for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs and will have capacity for up to 160 pupils across the seven to 19 years age range.

The school is being designed and cost managed by Arc Partnership with construction undertaken by Morgan Sindall Construction. It will be run by Diverse Academies Trust.

The school 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, Diverse Academies Trust, said it has been fantastic to see work progressing on site for Horizons Academy.

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.”