Major milestone as "world class" Lostock Hall special school nears completion
The school is set to open in early 2027.
A major milestone has been achieved at a new special school under construction in Lostock Hall.
Learners and staff at Applebee Wood School were joined by the Deputy CEO of The Sea View Trust to bury a time capsule as construction on their state-of-the-art new facility nears its final stages.
Students and staff contributed a collection of memorabilia, including a pop-it fidget toy and a school tie. The whole school contributed to a memory book filled with messages and photographs from each of the school's classes, preserving a snapshot of life at Applebee Wood today for future generations to discover in 50 years' time.
Speaking about the milestone, Louise Parrish, Deputy CEO of The Sea View Trust, said: "It is a real honour to be part of this Time Capsule Burial Event and to help create a lasting piece of the school's history. When future generations open this capsule in 50 years' time, they will gain an insight into life and education in 2026 and see just how much the world has changed.
“We are also incredibly excited about the completion of the new school building. The new facilities will provide learners with outstanding educational opportunities in a modern, purpose-built environment, including dedicated workshops, creative spaces and science laboratories. It represents an exciting new chapter for Applebee Wood School and the wider community."
The new purpose-built facility, delivered via the Department for Education’s (DfE) School Rebuilding Programme in partnership with contractors Tilbury Douglas, will soon provide a cutting-edge environment carefully tailored around the sensory and accessibility needs of its learners.
It will accomodate up to 168 students and 77 staff, with key features of the new build including:
- West Wing (Ground Floor): A dedicated Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) suite with independent external access.
-North Wing (Ground Floor): Classrooms for non-ambulant students, facilitating direct access to outdoor learning areas.
- East Wing: Will house communal spaces including the assembly and dining hall.
- Upper Level: Secondary classrooms (North wing), primary classrooms (East wing), Learning Resource Centres (LRCs), and staff supervision areas.
- Security: A secure reception incorporating a parent room and waiting area.
- Outdoor Provision: The redevelopment extends to the school grounds, which will feature a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), a playing pitch suitable for U11/U12 football, and an all-weather track designed for non-ambulant pupils. The site will also include a forest school habitat and vegetable allotment to support outdoor education.
Kabir Salihi, Regional Director – North West at Tilbury Douglas, said: “Our team were delighted to join learners and staff for this special milestone. The time capsule captures a snapshot of life at Applebee Wood today, creating a lasting link with future generations. We’re proud to be delivering a purpose-built school that will give learners and staff modern, specialist spaces to support teaching, creativity and practical learning for years to come.”
Work on the final phases of the project continues at pace, with the school community anticipating the official opening in early 2027.