Following government funding being confirmed and the subsequent granting of planning consent, construction work has recently started on the new £16.7 million Thetford Academy.

A ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of work was held yesterday, with principal Cathy Spillane with pupils turning the first sod. The event was attended by Thetford’s new Mayor, Terry Lamb, Sponsors, Governors and a number of other stakeholders involved in the project.

In addition to numerous new classrooms, distributed throughout the new two and three-storey building, are specialist areas such as a new sports hall, fitness suite, sixth form centre, learning and resources centre and ICT rich areas. There will also be a large central courtyard which will offer learning and social facilities, located close to extensive new dining facilities constructed in the retained elements of the existing buildings.

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An impressive double height atrium entrance area includes a café which, together with selected sports and learning facilities, will create enhanced opportunities for community interaction. Additional playing fields and a multi-use games area will be created on newly obtained land adjacent to the existing site. The development is set to achieve a BREEAM rating of “Very Good” and will have a number of green features including solar panels, biomass boiler, water saving features, lighting controls and materials with a high recyclable content.

The main contractor appointed to the scheme is the Swaffham-based firm Mansell. Mansell has previously delivered a number of school projects for Norfolk County Council. Over the last six months Mansell has worked with Norfolk County Council, and Academy advisors NPS Group and Building Partnerships to develop designs that will meet the Academy’s key core values of a learning centre with high performance achieved through quality leadership with a strong community focus.

(CD)