King's Phoenix - Onwards and upwards!

The development of the upper floor of the King’s Phoenix building, Vortex House (known as Phase 2), is on programme to receive students for September 2024. The project is being led by LocatED and MACE on behalf of the Department of Education (DfE) who are funding the project on behalf of Great Schools Trust. DFE have appointed Vinci Construction to deliver the project based on their successful delivery of Phoenix Phase 1.

To complement the existing ground floor facilities, the new accommodation will provide:

• 5 additional teaching spaces
• A second dedicated ICT suite
• Specialist art/design technology space with kiln room
• Therapy room
• Range of group rooms
• Sensory room
• Staff accommodation including a separate staff workroom
• Additional offices
• Refurbished student toilets

Whilst externally we will see:

• Hard informal/outdoor PE space
• Soft informal/nature area
• New security fence to the site perimeter. With access controlled vehicular and pedestrian access gates.
• Dedicated soft habitat/ horticultural space to western boundary accessed from ground floor refectory
• Electric vehicle charging points

The plans for the refurbishment of the building will include the replacement of obsolete heating plant with sustainable technology (air source heat pumps) to reduce operating costs. With photovoltaic cells (solar panels) mounted on canopies within the car park.

The design of the upper floor also leaves undeveloped space for future further expansion of King’s Phoenix should need be determined.

The Trust Director of Capital Programmes, Estates and Facilities, John Buchanan commented “Once complete, the extended alternative provision facilities at King’s Phoenix will represent one of the best alternative provision facilities in the North West of England. Providing the Trust with state-of-the-art facilities to give students the best opportunity to return to mainstream education.”