Works to expand a high school in Suffolk, creating an additional 150 places for pupils, are now underway

The expansion of the school will incorporate additional core facilities at Bungay High School, allowing the school to increase by up to 150 pupils. A new 2-storey standalone block will provide four new classrooms, staff area and a new kitchen and dining facility.

The work will also see existing rooms at the school refurbished and extended, including the creation of an additional Music Practice Room close to the existing music facility. The main school office will also be extended, to be able to facilitate more staff.

The external appearance of the new building has been designed to complement the existing school and will not have an adverse impact on the surrounding environment and natural landscape.

Natalie Finnigan, Associate at Concertus Design and Property Consultants said, “With the increasing focus on carbon neutral design and creating enhanced learning and social environments our design teams have worked with Kier, Suffolk County Council and the School to ensure increased cycle spaces, planting and external social spaces have been included to encourage cycling to school and improve the site’s biodiversity. Now the project is on site we are looking forward to working together to see these plans delivered.”

Operations Director at Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, Dennis Cotton, said, “We are pleased to be delivering the new teaching block and reconfiguration works at Bungay High School and look forward to working within the community over the course of the project.”

The works at the school, managed by East Anglian Schools Trust, are being funded by East Suffolk Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge that local authorities can access to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area.

Cllr David Ritchie, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management said: “Community Infrastructure Levy helps to support essential improvements to schools, health services and community facilities and last year, we allocated over £6million in Community Infrastructure Levy funding to seven major projects across East Suffolk. Bungay High School is just one of these projects, where improvements will be made to create space for additional students and enhance the lives of local families.”

Rachel Hood, Cabinet Member for Education, SEND and Skills said; “It is exciting to see work commence on this project. The expansion will provide a much needed additional 150 places for children, which supports the increasing population and enables more children to be educated within their local area.”

Bungay High School is just one of many school expansions that Concertus has designed on behalf of Suffolk County Council. The expansion of Chantry Academy has also begun, where a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities unit is also being created. The expansions of Elmswell Primary School, Breckland High School, and Brooklands Primary School will also all commence soon.