Inspiration Trust chosen to run new Cringleford free school

The Inspiration Trust, which runs more than a dozen academies in Norfolk and Waveney, has been revealed as the trust behind a new free school in Cringleford.

The new school is being built by Norfolk County Council to help the village cope with a huge influx of homes.

How a new school in Cringleford will look. Picture: Norfolk CC (Image: Norfolk County Council)

It will become the second primary school in the village, which is set to increase in size by more than 50pc in the coming years.

Currently, it has around 2,000 homes, but with more than 1,300 in the pipeline, demand for school places is also on the grow.

The new school, which aims to open in September 2024, will create 420 new spaces for the village and cater to children aged between four and 11.

Last year, the council launched a tender to find a trust to run it - which has now been confirmed as the Inspiration Trust.

Gareth Stevens, chief executive of the Inspiration Trust. Picture: Inspiration Trust (Image: Archant)

Gareth Stevens, trust chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be awarded the opportunity to open a new free school in Cringleford.

"As always, our mission is to ensure the children of our county are receiving the best possible education - opening this new free school will enable us to expand further on this mission, improving outcomes for even more children.

"At Cringleford we will promote a culture of kindness and children will be nurtured in a warm, friendly environment that prioritises outdoor learning and academic success”.

The new school will be the trust's seventh primary, with it already running Charles Darwin in Norwich, Cobholm Primary, Diamond Academy in Thetford, Great Yarmouth Primary Academy, Norwich Primary Academy and Stradbroke in Gorleston.

John Fisher, cabinet member for children's services, said he was looking forward to working with the trust.