Lisburne School in Offerton has been recognised on the national stage after being shortlisted for two categories at this year’s Education Estates Awards, which celebrate excellence and achievement in education. The new £15.5 million school, which opened in December last year, is in the running for:
- Project of the Year – Inclusive Design – recognises projects that create fully inclusive learning environments for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Project of the Year – State Schools – celebrates outstanding new school buildings that demonstrate excellence in design, construction, and impact on students and the community.
The school, designed by AtkinsRéalis, provides 208 places and has transformed education for local children aged 4–11 with complex needs such as autism, severe learning difficulties and physical disabilities.
From a Forest School and sensory garden to bespoke classrooms and outdoor learning spaces, Lisburne has been carefully designed to support pupils in developing confidence, independence and social skills.
Cllr Wendy Meikle, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Stockport Council, said: “This shortlisting is fantastic recognition for Lisburne School and a real credit to everyone who helped create such an inspiring and inclusive space for local children. It shows the difference that investing in SEND provision makes — not just to pupils, but to families and the wider community too."
The design for Lisburne School was delivered by AtkinsRéalis’ building design team based in its central Manchester office, representing a hub of design and engineering activity for the North West region.
Lorenzo Mognini, Associate Architect and Project Lead at AtkinsRéalis said: "This has been a really important project for us as and we were able to draw on our wide range of expertise in this sector working alongside Stockport Council, to design a sustainable and inspiring educational environment for everyone attending or working at the school.
“It really sets a new benchmark for future SEND provisions in the area, and we know that parents, teachers, and staff are optimistic about the opportunities it will provide.”
Lisburne’s success reflects the council's broader commitment to transforming SEND provision across Stockport and forms part of the ambitious plans we have for our borough - as we continue to deliver the opportunities that make us one of the best towns in England to live, learn, work and play. We want to support our young people by providing them with the best education, skills, and qualifications so they can be the best they can be.
The council has taken ambitious steps, including developing new two state-of-the-art special schools, expanding SEND teams and educational psychology services to provide tailored support, creating resource bases in mainstream schools so pupils can thrive in the right environment, and launching a Parent Portal to help families track applications, share documents, and communicate with coordinators. These initiatives are already improving outcomes, with higher attainment and attendance, fewer exclusions, and hundreds of additional high-needs places created.
In Stockport we take the approach that SEND is everyone's business and as such we have additional support and information for SEND families and children. This includes improvements to the SEND digital offer in Stockport. and redesigned the SEND Local Offer, an online resource offering clear, accessible information about support available for children and young people with SEND, including a local SEND services directory, SEND jargon buster and calendar of SEND inclusive events and activities.
The winners of the Education Estates Awards will be announced on 14 October 2025.