Steel completes for Northamptonshire SEND school

Working on behalf of main contractor Willmott Dixon, William Haley Engineering has completed the steel erection for a 230-space special education needs and disabilities (SEND) school in Tiffield, Northamptonshire

Willmott Dixon was appointed through the Department for Education’s Construction Framework to build the £21.4M school for West Northamptonshire Council.

The Tiffield Academy will accommodate pupils aged four to 18 years old and will include a variety of facilities including specialist teaching spaces, a soft playroom, a sensory room and a rebound therapy room. A playground, outdoor soft and hard play areas, and staff and visitor car parking are also included within the scheme.

Sustainability is at the heart of the school’s design, with the three-storey building being powered by photovoltaics (PVs) and heated by air source heat pumps. The design will enhance energy efficiency through high levels of air tightness and insulation, supporting West Northamptonshire Council’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Commenting on the project, Councillor Fiona Baker, Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Education, says: “It is positive to see work underway at the Tiffield site as we know these additional spaces are very much needed, and will make a significant difference to the children and young people who will attend the school, as well as their families. This school will provide an engaging environment, and excellent teaching and learning facilities to help our students learn, develop and connect.


“This is a step forward and is part of our wider programme of creating 600 new specialist places locally as we continue to see a high demand for SEND places to meet the needs of our children and young people.”

Tiffield Academy is due to open in Autumn 2025.