01/09/2025
Last month, Daniel Fordham, Operations Director in Consulting, had the pleasure of hosting Norse Group Chair Andy Wood and Norfolk County Councillor Fran Whymark on a tour of three standout education projects designed by our consulting team.
The day began at Swaffham’s new Special Educational Needs (SEN) School, a 224-place facility designed to provide vibrant, purpose-built spaces for children with specialist educational needs. The project was funded by Norfolk County Council (NCC), reflecting their commitment to investing in inclusive learning environments that enable every child to thrive.
Next stop was Hethersett Academy, where the group viewed two completed projects: a modern teaching block combined with a new drama and performance space, followed by the school’s most recent addition, a new kitchen and dining room. These improvements were made possible through funding from the NCC and the Greater Norwich Growth Board’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Infrastructure Fund, delivering long-term benefits for both students and the wider community.
The tour concluded in Wymondham at Silfield Oak Primary School, a 420-place primary built using consulting’s standard design template - the sixth school of its kind delivered by our team. This project was supported by NCC alongside contributions from local housing developers, ensuring that new homes are matched by the right community facilities. The visit included a discussion on the school’s impressive A+ energy efficiency rating and an exciting look ahead to Consulting’s next primary school project, set to begin construction in the coming months. This new build will be Net Zero in use and designed to consume 20% less energy than the Department for Education’s guidance.
The visits were a great opportunity to showcase the expertise, creativity, and sustainable innovation that Consulting brings to educational projects across the region — and the importance of partnership in making these schemes possible.
