Case Study
SEND Learning Centre ‘The Point’ at The Oaks Specialist College
The Oaks Specialist College is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2018 and is a successful provision for 18 to 25 year-olds with learning difficulties in Kent and the surrounding area.
The Brief
To meet growing demand for specialist provision, the college required an additional facility that could accommodate learners who need hoisting or specialist physical support during the day – a need that could not be met within their existing buildings. The new space would also support the college’s goal to keep learners local, avoiding the need for costly out-of-county placements while maintaining connections to family and friends.
The Site
Located in Tonbridge, Kent, the site for The Point sits within The Oaks Specialist College campus and has been designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing facilities and surrounding natural environment. The new single-storey building offers 435m² of carefully planned internal space, set within a landscaped area that facilitates accessibility and outdoor connection for all learners.
Construction began in March 2025 and was completed within six months, with minimal disruption to ongoing education. TG Escapes’ modular offsite approach ensured precision, quality, and speed – key considerations for a live college environment supporting vulnerable students.
The Solution
TG Escapes designed and built The Point using modular timber construction, applying biophilic design principles throughout. The bespoke building is used by learners with a variety of special educational needs and disabilities, including students with autism. It provides five classrooms, including a media suite and a specialist workshop area equipped with a riser kitchen, ceiling track hoist, and accessible self-care facilities.
These spaces have been carefully designed to meet the diverse physical and sensory needs of The Oaks’ learners, offering flexibility for a range of activities – from coding and filmmaking to practical life skills training.
The project forms part of a £1.8m investment in the college’s SEND provision and will play a vital role in supporting Kent County Council’s local inclusion and cost reduction strategy. A feasibility report by the Council found that the cost of educating a physically disabled learner locally at The Oaks (£42,000 per year) is significantly lower than the average £141,750 per year for out-of-county placements.
Matt Boughton, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: “The Oaks is a wonderful environment for SEND learners, which we are lucky to have in Tonbridge. Since 2018, they have made a huge difference to the lives of everyone who has studied there. I am delighted that this provision is expanding, which will help learners from Tonbridge and the surrounding area have high-quality provision within our community. The Point is a significant investment in Tonbridge, and this expansion will only help The Oaks do even more great work in the town.”
Sustainability and Design Features
Environmental responsibility is central to both The Oaks’ ethos and TG Escapes’ design approach. The Point has been constructed to the highest sustainability standards, targeting a gold-standard A* EPC rating, aligning with The Oaks’ “Let’s Go Zero” carbon reduction strategy.
Key sustainability and design features include:
- Timber frame modular construction – reducing embodied carbon and allowing future recyclability.
- Renewable energy technology – cutting carbon emissions by approximately 3.2 tonnes per year.
- Natural ventilation and abundant daylighting – improving wellbeing and reducing energy use.
- Biophilic design elements – including floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, covered canopies, and natural finishes to strengthen the connection between indoors and out.
- Furniture donation and reuse – furnishings were provided at no cost through Business 2 Schools in partnership with HiBob, further supporting the college’s sustainable values.
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, especially for autistic 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-to-ceiling 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.”
Outcome
The Point opens in November 2025, marking an exciting new chapter for The Oaks Specialist College. The new facility provides a modern, inclusive, and inspiring environment where young adults with additional needs can thrive – locally, sustainably, and with dignity.
The project has enabled the college to extend its reach, enhance local SEND provision, and deliver substantial cost savings of £1m per annum for the local authority, all while embodying the college’s commitment to environmental stewardship and social inclusion.
Ros Leach, College Principal, said: “For some of our learners, transitions from school can feel overwhelming, especially if the prospect is to move out of home as well. It was great for them to have the opportunity to get to know The Point during construction, so that when it formally opens in November, it already feels like a safe and welcoming place to learn. Investing in The Point demonstrates our commitment to providing our students with exemplary education. It also gives us extra capacity at The Oaks, meaning that young people who require additional specialist provision can remain rooted in their local community while attending a college that meets their needs, enabling them to maintain family contacts and positive relationships as well as learning vital independent and employability skills.”
We asked CEO Gordon Tillman;
What made TG Escapes stand out from other providers?
TG Escapes’ exemplary eco credentials made them stand out from the many other providers of modular buildings. Our building is designed to be as carbon neutral as possible from inception to the end of its life span and, as a college preparing our learners for adulthood, this includes educating them about climate change, sustainability and related issues (and “green careers”), so this element of the building was essential in providing education and a “role model” for future best practice in buildings.
What are the biggest benefits you have noticed for the pupils and staff?
Our learners and staff love this building!
It is spacious and light, looks stylish and is a million miles away from a boring “bog standard” education building.
Learners, their parents and our staff can see the ambition we have for our learners reflected in the style and quality of the building and the visual impression it creates.
Inside the physical space is 100% fit for purpose and is flexible to meet our needs.
