Bure Park Specialist Academy - New SEMH special school for Great Yarmouth

Bure Park Specialist Academy opened on 20 September 2021, welcoming thirty pupils in the first intake with more joining early in 2022 until full capacity of 88 pupils is achieved. The first intake included children from Great Yarmouth, which reduces the length of their journey to school elsewhere in the county.

Bure Park Specialist Academy is for boys aged 5-16 years of age with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. This is the first new special school to open as part of Norfolk County Council's SEND Transformation Project. It provides a number of residential places and occupies the former Alderman Swindell Primary School site.

The school aims through its curriculum to provide a caring, stimulating, academically driven environment, where student achievement and confidence is paramount. It pledges to do this by reducing learning barriers, increasing knowledge, teaching positive behaviour, reflective thinking and understanding, and building self-esteem.

Bure Park has impressive facilities and space with highly-experienced, skilled and committed staff. There are 14 classrooms, practical teaching and learning spaces, communal halls, a multi-purpose hall, library and full kitchen and dining facilities. There are also soft and hard outdoor PE areas and social areas and a large garden and wild habitat and three dormitories in its residential provision.

The school achieved a good rating for its first-ever residential Ofsted Inspection in May 2022.

The school is managed by Broad Horizons Education Trust which has a number of academies in Norfolk including Eaton Hall in Norwich. 

Find out more about Broad Horizons Education Trust.  (opens new window)

All places are commissioned and funded by Norfolk County Council. New admissions are through a county admissions panel.

Visit the admissions process for special schools and specialist colleges page to find out more about the special school admissions process.