Surrey to get sustainability-driven SEND school

Surrey County Council has appointed Willmott Dixon for the £23 million project to build a new home for Hopescourt School in Walton-on-Thames.

It will be Surrey’s flagship Net Zero Carbon Special Free School and plays a crucial role in Surrey’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Capital Programme.

Once complete in Spring 2026, it will offer specialist school places for 200 autistic pupils aged 4-19 years as well as those with communication and interaction needs, supporting the Council’s commitment to inclusive education.

Hopescourt School opened on a temporary site in West Molesey in September this year after 24 months of planning and development in a partnership between Surrey County Council and Bourne Education Trust with Freemantles School in Woking, and the Department for Education Regions Group.

Alex Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Bourne Education Trust: “We are delighted that the development of Hopescourt School’s permanent site is underway, and I know that our students, their families and our staff will be excited to see the progress of the new school building over the forthcoming months.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Surrey County Council, Willmott Dixon and with Freemantles School in Woking, and to seeing our shared vision for the permanent Hopescourt School site become a reality for children with special educational needs and disabilities.”