(UK) Norfolk Co: Plans for "autism base" at secondary school; 9 staff/25 students

June 15, 2025, Fakenham Times: Plans lodged for new autism base at Norfolk school

Plans for the first of two new school extensions bankrolled by the family of a Norfolk businessman have been lodged.

Norfolk County Council has submitted  proposals for a specialist resource base at Alderman Peel High School in Wells-next-the-Sea, which would provide much-needed school places for children with autism.

The plans come after Norfolk County Council last week agreed to accept a £2.2m [$3M] donation from the Cullum Family Trust, set up by Norwich-born businessman Peter Cullum, CBE, to create specialist bases in association with the National Autistic Society.

The standalone building at the Alderman Peel High School, run by the Wensum Trust, would provide 25 places to help autistic youngsters thrive within mainstream school.

The building, which would constructed on part of the school's playing field, would be known as a Cullum Centre, with the council looking to create a similar facility at Acle Academy.

Documents submitted with the planning application say the base is needed because there is currently no secondary school provision for children with autism in the north of the county.

The documents state: "Special schools are reporting a rise in applications for children who could and should have their needs met in mainstream schools with the right specialist support in place.

"The Alderman Peel High School autism base aims to reduce the demand for special school places where, with the right support, children will achieve better outcomes by remaining in a mainstream school."

The base would, when running at full capacity, employ two full-time teachers, three higher level teaching assistants, and four teaching assistants.

The Cullum Family Trust is putting £1.1m [$1.5M] into the two centres, with Conservative-run County Hall adding the final £2.5m [$3.4M]required.

A decision on whether to grant permission for the Alderman Peel High School base will be made in due course.

Council officers hope the new base can be built and open in time for the new school term in September next year.