Project: SEND Woking High School
Segment: Education
Country/city: United Kingdom, Woking
Main contractor: TG Escapes
Production year: 2024

Surrey County Council have an increasing need for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) places and wanted to create additional provision for visually impaired students at Woking High School. TG Escapes provided them with a purpose-designed solution including 3 classrooms, breakout spaces, offices and toilets increasing capacity for 11-16 year olds from 12 to 20.

On completion, Ecophon undertook acoustic testing of the classrooms which shows that they exceed the requirements of BB93 Acoustic Design of Schools SEN standard, with the use of Ecophon Gedina™ A + Extra Bass. As a result, this classroom will:

Be quieter
• Have improved speech clarity = less repetition, less tiredness and fatigue for students
• Have less vocal strain on teaching staff
• Reduce heart rates and blood pressure
• Reduce irritability and improve behaviour due to being able to concentrate
• Improve information retention and enhance group working
• Improve motivation and academic aspirations

Shane Cryer, Concept Developer – Education, Saint-Gobain Ecophon says;

“TG Escapes have easily achieved in their SEN unit in Woking that which some contractors complain is too difficult, a learning space that meets BB93: acoustic design of schools, for neurodivergent and hearing impaired SEN students. By utilising Ecophon’s low-cost, low-frequency Extra-Bass pads above the Ecophon Class A suspended ceiling, they have soaked up the unwanted bass frequencies that can otherwise be problematic and contribute to a disturbing, noisy environment. Sight-impaired students often develop enhanced hearing sensitivity, relying on their hearing to navigate and compensate for their sight loss. Clarity of speech and a low ambient noise level assist their ability to concentrate and focus on their lessons.”

View TG Escapes full case study here.