McAvoy to deliver modular SEMH school in Devon

By Danny BallPublished On: September 23rd, 2026Categories: News, Top Stories

Offsite manufacturer McAvoy has been appointed to deliver a 25,241 sq ft interim school for The Promise School in Devon, following a fire that destroyed the existing school building earlier this year.

The specialist social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) school is being delivered for Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust as a full turnkey project, covering groundworks, design and construction.

The new facility is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

McAvoy to deliver 25,241 sq ft modular school

The school has been designed in collaboration with The Promise School, Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust and multidisciplinary consultancy Coreus, which is providing project management, cost management, planning and advisory services.

McAvoy is using its SmartClass education solution to provide specialist facilities for pupils with SEMH needs.

The building will include a hygiene room with shower, toilet and changing facilities, a medical room, soft playroom, sensory room, nurture classroom and independent living room.

The independent living space will provide facilities for pupils to develop practical skills including cooking and cleaning.

Specialist SEMH facilities included in school design

The facility will also include intervention and regulation rooms for pupils who require additional support or a quieter environment.

The existing multi-use games area will be adapted with a full-span canopy to provide an all-weather space for PE, play and other outdoor activities.

The internal layout will separate primary and secondary pupils, with dedicated teaching and dining spaces for each on the ground floor.

Staff facilities will be located on the first floor, while the layout is designed to support movement around the building for pupils and staff.

Interim school designed for fire safety and energy efficiency

The building is designed to achieve a 60-minute fire rating and will operate entirely on electricity.

Hybrid ventilation units will be installed to support indoor comfort and air quality.

Rhys Regan, Regional Head of Modular Rental & Sales at McAvoy, said: “We are proud to be delivering this new school environment and helping pupils return to the school site as soon as possible. While the speed of delivery is important, it has been equally important to ensure the interim school is carefully designed around the specific needs of its SEMH pupils.

Projects like this require a rapid response to unexpected disruption, alongside careful consideration of how the building needs to work for the people who will use it every day.

Working closely with The Promise School, Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, and Coreus has allowed us to develop a solution that reflects the needs of both pupils and staff.

“We look forward to seeing the new school take shape and providing The Promise School with an environment that supports teaching, learning, and wellbeing.”