Bishop of Wolverhampton attends opening of new special education unit at Walsall school
Staff and pupils at a Walsall school have welcomed the Bishop of Wolverhampton as they open their new special education needs unit.
Members of Walsall's Blue Coat Church of England Infant and Junior school welcomed the Bishop of Wolverhampton for the official opening of their new special needs unit, 'The Ark'.
The Ark, based in the newly opened Dorothy Buchanan Building on Springhill Road, Walsall, features a bespoke environment to help ease support the learning of children aged four to 11 who have special education needs.
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Attending the opening on Thursday afternoon, the Bishop of Wolverhampton, Rt Revd Dr Tim Wambunya, was also joined by Dorothy Buchanan, who served on the Blue Coat governing body for over 30 years.
Miss Buchanan received an MBE from the Queen for services to education in 2013. The building that houses the new provision was named in her honour.
The Bishop of Wolverhampton said: "I am delighted to be joining Blue Coat C of E Junior School for the formal opening of their new Specialist Resource Provision.
"It is a joy to see the Church of England’s commitment to inclusive education expressed so clearly in this innovative and compassionate initiative. My prayer is that this new provision will serve as a space for growth, belonging, and hope for every child it serves."
The unique building features specially designed spaces, including two sensory rooms and a garden, as well as a specialist teaching team and bespoke curriculum.
Mr Anthony Orlik, executive head of the Blue Coat Infant and Junction Schools' Federation, said: "We serve a wonderful, diverse community at Blue Coat and the schools have always had a strong commitment to inclusion and providing the best possible education to all learners whatever their needs.
"We are delighted to be working with Walsall Council and the Lichfield Diocese to deliver this new base offering the highest quality provision for pupils who can really benefit from it."
