Ashe Construction has secured a multi-million-pound contract to build a new special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

The scheme will deliver Journeys Academy, a new school providing 60 places for primary-aged pupils with complex communication and autism needs. It is being developed by Hertfordshire County Council in partnership with the Agora Trust, as part of wider efforts to expand SEND provision across the county.

Demand for SEND places is rising sharply. Government figures show more than 1.7 million pupils in England now have special educational needs, an increase of 93,700 since 2024. In Hertfordshire, around 42,000 pupils require SEND support, up from 39,000 last year.

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Journeys Academy will be built on the former Sunny Bank School site. Plans include 10 new classrooms, alongside dedicated spaces for practical activities, a library, and an ICT suite.

Designed by Holmes Miller, the school will be Net Zero Carbon in Operation. Sustainability measures include a green roof to enhance biodiversity and improve environmental performance.

The project forms part of Hertfordshire County Council's strategy to meet growing SEND demand through a mix of new schools, satellite provision linked to existing sites, and specialist resource units within mainstream schools.

Procured via the Pagabo Medium Works framework, the Potters Bar scheme marks another significant step in expanding high-quality SEND provision across the county.