Celebrating New Beginnings – Our New School Building
Last night, we proudly celebrated our new school building. The event was attended by representatives from the key partners who played a vital role in researching, designing, funding, and building our exceptional new learning environment.
Principal James Kearns welcomed guests from OHC&AT, the Department for Education, Sutton Council, Kier Construction, Novium Architects, and SEND support groups, expressing thanks for their contributions to the project.
During the evening, Principal James Kearns introduced Project Butterfly—a whole-school initiative designed by Therapeutic Teaching and Learning Lead, Erica Grima and the schools therapy team to support students and staff with the transition to the new building.
Mr Kearns explained,
“Moving to a new learning environment is exciting, but like any significant change, it can bring anxiety. As a therapeutic school, we wanted this move to be a positive experience for everyone. We blended creativity, artistic expression, and therapy to guide the school community through the transition in an uplifting and meaningful way.
The metaphor of the caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly provided a powerful and engaging framework that invited all students and staff to see the change as a shared journey—something they could participate in and feel proud of.”
Mr Kearns shared with guests how the butterfly theme inspired a wide range of creative and therapeutic activities.
“From a whole-school collaborative artwork and a symbolic ‘trip to Butterfly Island’ (our new school building), to the creation of butterflies made from the pages of students’ favourite books—every activity was designed to make the transition memorable. These handmade butterflies now ‘fly’ from a giant open book in a stunning display in our new library.
Each class also received a butterfly garden kit. Students nurtured caterpillars through their life cycle and released them into the school garden on the final day—symbolising new beginnings and personal growth.”
Visitors were invited to collaborate and create a butterfly inspired artwork to mark the occasion.
Special thanks go to our Student Ambassadors, who welcomed guests to the event and proudly led guided tours of their new facilities, and to Veirra, a talented Year 11 student who performed an original rap about the move. His powerful lyrics helped ease fears and celebrate the emotions of starting a new chapter. Vierra’s confident performance received a well deserved standing ovation.
Visitors were impressed by our state-of-the-art facilities, designed to foster learning, independence, creativity, and wellbeing. These include:
- Carew Brew – A student-led café near reception that also hosts our breakfast club
- Dedicated Drama and Dance Studio
- Sensory Outdoor Garden
- Skills for Life Studio Flat – Supporting independent living skills
- Comfortable and Inviting Library – To nurture a love of reading
- Indoor and Outdoor Sports Courts
- Large, Light-Filled Classrooms – Warmly decorated to create a homely, therapeutic environment
The transition has been a great success. Our students are thriving in their new surroundings, and last night was the perfect opportunity to share their journey with the many dedicated partners who made it all possible.
We look forward to hosting more events and welcoming the local community through our doors, keep an eye on the websites for community events and information for neighbours.
