Jan 24, 2022, Eastern Daily Press: New special school opens doors to first students https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/first-students-at-duke-of-lancaster-fakenham-8637398
Eastern England
The headteacher at a new special school in Norfolk says he is hoping to provide the right environment for students to unlock their full potential.
Rob Speck, head of the Duke of Lancaster, in Fakenham, was speaking after welcoming the first 48 students on January 10.
The SENDAT (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Academies Trust) school is for pupils aged between five and 16, with a primary need of autism or complex communication and interaction needs….
The year-long building project by Norfolk County Council and RG Carter Construction is part of the council’s £120 million [$162M] programme to transform special education and address the ever-increasing demand for specialist education places across the county.
The programme will create 500 additional new special education places in a combination of schools and specialist resources bases at mainstream schools.
John Fisher, cabinet member for children’s services at the county council, added: "We’ve been delighted to work with the school, the trust which runs it and RG Carter Construction to make sure this new school building gives the best-possible facilities to support the education of all the children and young people learning there.
"I’d like to wish Rob Speck, his team and all the school’s new students the very best.”
The school will increase its intake to a maximum capacity of 100 children and young people by September 2023.
