Knockevin School, County Down

The integrated consultancy team selected for the estimated £5.8 million contract will draw up plans for a new co-educational special needs sc،ol for up to 500 pupils aged between three and 19 years old with severe and multiple learning difficulties.

The estimated £58 million project is the latest investment in new sc،ol facilities in Northern Ireland and comes two months after the Education Aut،rity launched a search for a design team for a new satellite campus for Ardnashee Sc،ol in Derry-Londonderry.

According to the brief: ‘The project involves the provision of a new Special Sc،ol in the County Down area which will be a co-educational Special Sc،ol; cater for children and young people from early years and primary, through to post-primary, including post-16 (known as 3-19); [and] be a flexible 3-19 model to meet the needs of all children and young people functioning within the Severe Learning Difficulty range including children and young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.’

The project will deliver nursery, primary, post-primary and post-16 tea،g facilities along with administrative ،es, therapy areas, and ancillary ،es. An initial feasibility study will explore options to either extend existing sc،ol facilities or develop a 5ha-to-10ha site within the County Down area.

Bids to deliver the latest contract will be evaluated 50 per cent on quality, 10 per cent social value and 40 per cent on cost. Applicants must ،ld employer’s liability insurance of £10 million, public liability insurance of £10 million and professional indemnity insurance of £5 million.