New life for Oakvale

WORK has started on turning the former Oakvale School into a centre for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

It is the final step in local provision for special education needs and is due to be completed in November, when pupils from Granville House will move there.

Contractors will work for 15 weeks to convert the building into a specialist centre which will support children aged five to 16 and their schools and families.

It will be divided into two, with areas for primary and secondary school children.

Facilities such as the swimming pool, climbing wall and art and design classrooms will be shared.

Assistant director for schools and education services Shona Isbister said the centre would use a multi-agency approach to help pupils move back into mainstream schooling and prevent those at risk from dropping out early.