Exterior Building Structures


Delivering Mainstream Inclusion: The Aquinas Centre at St John the Baptist School


Local authorities across the UK are facing unprecedented pressure to expand specialist educational provision. As high-needs demand grows alongside constrained capital budgets, councils must balance speed, sustainability, and quality. In Surrey, a forward-thinking collaboration between Surrey County Council and modular eco-building specialist TG Escapes demonstrates how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can provide affordable, high-specification inclusion bases at rapid pace.


with confidence. Every design decision, from zoning to circulation, supports self- regulation, independence and clarity, creating an environment where pupils can focus on learning rather than managing sensory overload.


Karl Stokes, Managing Director at TG Escapes, notes: “The Aquinas Centre is an example of our Inclusive Learning Hub concept in action, designed to integrate SEND provision seamlessly into a mainstream school setting. Sustainable, purpose-built facilities like these reduce barriers to education and help foster genuinely inclusive learning environments where students with special educational needs can thrive alongside their peers.”


provision, creating 30 new specialist places that will help more children and young people access the support they need closer to home. This investment reflects our commitment to providing inclusive education opportunities that enable every child to thrive within their local community.”


The Architecture of Inclusion C


ompleted in just 35 weeks, The Aquinas Centre, surrounding landscaping and civil works, at St John the Baptist School in Woking represents a £3.6 million investment under Surrey County Council’s Inclusion and Additional Needs Partnership Strategy 2023–2026. The facility provides a dedicated inclusion base designed to create 30 new places for children and young people with SEND, ASD and SEMH needs.


Seamless Mainstream Integration


The Department for Education defines an inclusion base as a dedicated space in a mainstream school offering specialist teaching or targeted support.


“This is not about creating a separate experience for our students, but a more inclusive one,” explains Anna Dwyer, Deputy Head at St John the Baptist School. “Young people accessing The Aquinas Centre will remain full members of our school community, learning alongside their peers while benefiting from tailored support when needed.”


Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning at Surrey County Council, stated: “The Aquinas Centre is a fantastic addition to Surrey’s SEND


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Spanning 512m², the building is an operational manifestation of TG Escapes’ Inclusive Learning Hub concept, translating complex SEND guidance into practical, therapeutic architecture.


The internal layout balances collaborative learning with dedicated decompression spaces:


• Three Specialist Classrooms: Feature fully equipped teaching walls and generous glazing to flood rooms with natural daylight while mitigating glare and distractions.


• Therapy and Intervention Suites: Self- contained therapy and sensory rooms tailored for speech, occupational, and pastoral practitioners.


• Vocational Teaching Kitchen: An accessible space designed to teach daily living skills, fostering practical independence.


• Calm Retreats & Low-Stimulus Zones: Breakout spaces that allow staff to de- escalate sensory anxiety without isolating students from the learning environment.


• Acoustic and Environmental Comfort: Enhanced acoustic insulation minimises noise transmission, paired with high- performance ventilation to maintain indoor air quality.


The layout is intentionally clear, legible and calm, helping pupils navigate the space


Autumn 2026 issue 4185 Turnkey Delivery and Sustainability


Delivered on a live school site with minimal disruption, the project extended well beyond the building envelope. As turnkey contractor, TG Escapes executed a comprehensive civil and infrastructure package, including new highways access, an access road, EV-ready parking, storm drainage, utility connections, safeguarding fencing, a biodiverse rain garden managing surface water along the access road, and play areas with sensory surfaces, seating and social space.


Environmental performance is central to the design. Built to be carbon-neutral for regulated energy, the timber-frame building features solar PV arrays, air source heat pumps (ASHPs), and heat recovery ventilation, aligning directly with Surrey’s carbon-reduction commitments.


Natalie Bramhall, Cabinet Member for Property, Infrastructure and Waste, stated: “This project demonstrates how innovative, sustainable construction can help us deliver high-quality facilities quickly and efficiently for Surrey residents.”


A Multi-Site Programme


The Aquinas Centre represents one of four major education projects TG Escapes have delivered for Surrey County Council. Other completed schemes include The Liz Kyriacou Building at Woking High School (£1.4m), a purpose-built autism unit at Stepgates Community School (£1.5m), and a specialist SEND inclusion base at St Matthew’s CofE Primary School (£1.3m).


For more information about TG Escapes Modular Eco-Buildings, or a complimentary design and viability consultation, call 0800 917 7726, email info@tgescapes.co.uk or visit tgescapes.co.uk/education.


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