We are proud to announce that planning has now been submitted for Bramcote SEND School at Foxwood Academy 2, an important milestone in delivering a purpose-built secondary SEND facility in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire.
An aerial view of Foxwood Academy 2 showing the central outdoor spaces, secure play areas and integrated sustainability features.
Located on Derby Road, the proposal will transform a vacant former school site into a new specialist learning environment for 150 pupils aged 11 to 18. The new school has been designed to support children and young people with a wide range of needs across Pathway 1 to Pathway 3, creating a setting that is inclusive, aspirational and carefully tailored to how pupils learn, move and thrive.
This is a significant project not only because of the number of new specialist places it will provide, but because of the quality of the environment being proposed. The design has been developed throughout 2025 in consultation with Nottinghamshire County Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, the school and the wider trust team. The ambition has been clear from the outset: to create model learning spaces that support an excellent educational experience and help students flourish while reaching their full potential.
The scheme forms part of a wider educational setting, linking Foxwood Academy 1 for primary-aged pupils with the new secondary provision at Foxwood Academy 2. That sense of progression has become a central part of the design. The building has evolved into an ‘X’-shaped arrangement, with teaching wings organised by key stage and pathway, helping to create clear identities within the school while keeping shared spaces easy to reach. The result is a layout that supports independence, accessibility and calm day-to-day movement through the building.
How Bramcote SEND School supports specialist learning
A major strength of the proposal is the way it responds to the needs of SEND pupils through both architecture and landscape. All key teaching spaces are located at ground floor level for ease of mobility, with Pathway 1 classrooms future-proofed for hoist provision. Group rooms sit immediately next to classrooms, staff bases are positioned to support passive supervision, and each wing has direct access to its own secure external learning and play space. The design also includes a first-floor terrace connected to sixth form and staff areas, creating a quieter environment with direct links to nature.
The new main entrance to Foxwood Academy 2 has been designed to create a welcoming and legible arrival experience for pupils, staff and visitors.
The wider site has been shaped to offer far more than a school building alone. The proposals include 16 classrooms, specialist teaching spaces, a multi-purpose hall, dining facilities, external classrooms, a MUGA, a dedicated Vocational Food Building, and a Preparation for Adulthood building designed to replicate a home setting where pupils can develop life skills such as cooking, cleaning and independent living. These elements support a broad curriculum while also reflecting the school’s commitment to preparing students for adulthood in a practical and meaningful way.
Bramcote SEND School and the wider landscape
Landscape has played a major role in the scheme from the beginning. The site sits within a mature setting with woodland edges, existing trees, scrub and grassland, and the design seeks to retain as much of that character as possible. Outdoor classrooms, sensory play areas, walking and cycling routes, rain gardens, habitat areas and species-rich planting all help to create a setting that is calming, biodiverse and connected to the surrounding environment. The intention is to provide a school that feels embedded within the landscape rather than imposed upon it.
Bramcote SEND School also brings wider community benefit. The design allows some spaces, including the dining area, main hall and external MUGA, to be used out of hours, helping the school contribute to the wider local area as well as its pupils. This balance between specialist educational provision and community value has been carefully considered throughout the submission.
Foxwood Academy 2 is set within a mature landscape, with the design carefully arranged around arrival, learning, play and access.
For us, this submission is a project worth celebrating. It represents thoughtful, inclusive design and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality specialist education in Nottinghamshire. We are excited to see Bramcote SEND School at Foxwood Academy 2 move forward and look forward to sharing further updates as the project progresses.
For the latest news on the project, please keep an eye on our LinkedIn page.
