Topping Out Ceremony Celebrates Construction Milestone at Norfolk Academy

More than 200 children are set to be able to attend their local Norwich secondary school from this autumn after the completion of major building work by a Norfolk County Council-run project.

The council's £169 million school building investment programme will see it build or significantly expand eight schools to support fast-growing communities across the county.

The first milestone is a two-storey building housing 14 new classrooms and a new library together with two new outdoor multi-use games areas, and 30 additional parking spaces at Sprowston Community Academy. These new facilities will mean the school can accommodate a further 250 students from September this year.

Cllr John Fisher, Cabinet Member for Children's Services said: "It was great to honour the hard work taking place at Sprowston Community Academy. The project has come a long way in good time, and I was most impressed by the new building. Soon pupils at the school will have some brilliant educational resources.

"I look forward to seeing the completed construction which will offer spaces for growing Norfolk communities and their children".

The work comes after the school became oversubscribed and is part of Norfolk County Council's multi-million-pound plan to expand four existing schools and build another four new schools in areas that are set to see housing growth.

Liz Wood, Headteacher at the school said: "We have been delighted by the progress of the new build. The building is looking incredible, and we are excited by the opportunities it will bring us. In addition to giving us 14 new English classrooms, the library will further inspire our students who have a love of reading whilst creating a calm and reflective space for all pupils to use in lessons and at breaks and lunchtime".

The new building will mean the school can permanently house their English department in one space, rather than spread across the school as it is currently and offer a library that has sufficient capacity for the number of pupils the school accommodates.

Pentaco Construction Ltd have been undertaking the work. Gavin Napper, Managing Director of the company said: "We are pleased to continue working together with Norfolk County Council and NPS and contributing to the local community so that the children in the area can now look forward to benefiting from these fantastic new facilities at Sprowston Academy".