Beech Hall School - Riyadh

Calm by design

The first fully inclusive SEND school in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Beech Hall School in Riyadh was the first fully inclusive SEND school in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It follows global best practice in design for neurodivergence, supporting learners with ADHD and with autism up to mid-level, and is designed to work equally well for every learner in the school.

The interior concepts were developed by Stacey Roberts, Ben Barton and David Judge while at Space Zero, Kampus's sister business, shortly before Kampus was established.

The brief

Beech Hall set out to offer inclusive SEND education in a market where no such school yet existed. The environment had to meet global best practice for neurodivergent learners – those with ADHD and with autism up to mid-level – from the first day of operation.

As a first for the Kingdom, the school would also set the reference point for inclusive provision that followed it.

The design response

Our specialist team designed Beech Hall around one principle: a school that works well for learners with additional needs should work well for every learner. Calmer sensory environments and spaces that are easy to understand help everyone who uses the building – learners, educators and support staff alike.

The interiors take their inspiration from nature and follow biophilic design principles. The concepts are gentle and beautiful, and the whole school is designed to feel relaxing and calm from the moment you arrive.

The outcome

Beech Hall has become a leading example of how fully inclusive schools can be developed in the Kingdom. It shows that designing to the highest standard for neurodivergent learners produces a better school for everyone.