THE Oaks Specialist College in Tonbridge has unveiled its new home learning centre, The Point, which opened at the end of last year. Sustainable construction firm, TG Escapes, designed and built the new building using modular construction methods. The Point was completed in just six months, allowing education to continue at The Oaks with minimal disruption.
The single-storey, 435 sqm2 building will be used by learners aged 18 to 25 with a variety of special educational needs and disabilities. It features four flexible learning spaces, including a workshop with specialist provision for those with physical disabilities (such as a riser kitchen, a track and hoist, and accessible self-care facilities), plus a media space where learners can practice skills like coding and film-making with specialist equipment adapted to their needs.
The Point is part of a £1.8m project to expand the special educational provision at The Oaks. After initial plans were approved in early 2025, work began in March and was completed in October.
This expansion also represents a major cost saving of £1m per year for the local authority. Educating a learner with a physical disability at The Oaks costs around £42,000 a year, compared with an annual average of £141,750 for out-of-county placements. By increasing local capacity, The Oaks can support more young people with special educational needs and disabilities closer to home while helping local authorities ease the financial pressure of high-cost EHCP placements.
TG Escapes was chosen to design and build The Point because of their sustainable construction methods, biophilic design principles, and specialist experience in the education sector.
Mark Guyatt, Lead Architectural Consultant at TG Escapes, said: “Biophilic design is an architectural approach that seeks to connect a building’s occupants with nature, promoting wellbeing, health, and productivity. When these principles are applied to a school environment, the benefits for students are clear. For example, a 2015 study found that school surroundings rich in greenery are linked to improved cognitive skills, while maximising natural light helps to reduce reliance on harsh artificial lighting, which can be distressing for students with special educational needs and disabilities. The Point at The Oaks is a prime example of this in practice. We incorporated natural materials like timber, floor-toceiling windows and skylights, covered canopies and other elements that demonstrate biophilic design in action and link the inside to out. Students were also invited to safely explore their new space during construction.”
Beverley Fordham, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Kent County Council, said: “The opening of The Point marks a significant step forward for young people with SEND in Kent. This new provision will not only offer high-quality, tailored learning in a modern and inclusive environment, but also allow more students to access the support they need closer to home. Importantly, the introduction of features like hoists and accessible self-care facilities means that students with physical disabilities now have access to learning spaces and equipment that were previously unavailable. This is about more than just education - it’s about independence, dignity, and opportunity. We’re proud to support projects like this that make a real difference in young people’s lives.”
The bespoke timber-clad building has been designed to have a gold-standard ‘A*’ EPC rating, and is powered by renewable energy technology. Features like this support The Oaks’ “Let’s Go Zero” carbon reduction plan, and will save an estimated £4.5-6k in annual running costs and 3.2 tons of CO2 per year compared to buildings meeting minimum building control standards.
www.tgescapes.co.uk
