FIVE pupils who will be attending a new special needs school got a chance to look inside the building for the first time.

The Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning (SAIL), on Wilton Road, is undergoing refurbishment after Salisbury's University Technical College (UTC) closed in August 2020.

The school will provide education to children and young people aged from 4 to 19 years with a diagnosis of autism or a social, emotional and mental health profile.

Once finished, SAIL will have the capacity to cater for up to 150 pupils, significantly less than the reported 600 capacity of the UTC.

Up to 75 pupils will be taught at two separate sites - 50 at Sarum Academy (currently the home of Springfields South) and 25 at Pembroke Park Primary School - until refurbishments of the Wilton Road site are completed in early 2024.

On Wednesday, March 15, pupils and staff from Springfields South were invited to visit their new school for the first time.

Salisbury Journal: Site manager Virgillo Faria, head of school Beckie Deacon, Owen, Toby, Dylan, Benji, SENCO Stephanie Berry and project manager Jamie Thomas.Site manager Virgillo Faria, head of school Beckie Deacon, Owen, Toby, Dylan, Benji, SENCO Stephanie Berry and project manager Jamie Thomas. (Image: Springfields South)

Head of school Beckie Deacon and special educational needs coordinator Stephanie Berry took pupils Owen, Toby, Dylan and Benji.

A spokesperson for Springfields South said: "This is a vital part of the pupils transition process that will be rolled out to all pupils at Springfields South who transitioning to SAIL throughout the coming months.

"The visit today allowed pupils to view the building, meet Tilbury Douglas and give pupil voice on the work to date."