Site reopens as special educational needs school

Assistant head teacher Mel Medlock said the school had 12 pupils with space for more

A small school which closed because of falling pupil numbers has reopened as a special school.

Great Dunham Primary School in west Norfolk has been renamed and redesigned for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs linked to traumatic experiences.

The new facility is called Compass West and is run by Unity Education Trust (UET), which merged Great Dunham with nearby Beeston Primary School in June 2025.

"We're thrilled to be able to offer our children more opportunities," said assistant head teacher Mel Medlock.

The change reflects a decline in the number of primary-school aged pupils in the county, while demand for special educational needs support increases.

Compass East has 12 students and six staff, with the potential to take more pupils if needed.

Most of the children who go there are primary-school aged, but it can cater for children into Year Nine.

The school has on-site mental health support and care.

Teachers came in over the half-term break to make sure the new classrooms were ready for the children.

Ms Medlock said there was a "clear need" for more facilities for students with special educational needs and disabilities.

Repurposing small schools where appropriate could provide space, she said.

Glyn Hambling, chief executive of the Unity Education Trust, said new buildings and a refurbished play area had been added to the site

Glyn Hambling, the chief executive of UET, said shutting Great Dunham had been a difficult decision.

"We never wanted to close the site and leave it derelict," he said.

"I'm really in favour of repurposing the building and we have children in Norfolk who have specific needs who need the best facilities they can get."

Great Dunham Primary School closed earlier this year due to falling pupil numbers

Nationally the numbers of primary school aged children are declining, according to Department for Education data.

Norfolk County Council is looking at how best to manage the reduction in demand for places.

King's Lynn, Cromer and the Flegg area, north of Great Yarmouth, have all been identified as having significantly more primary school places than anticipated demand.

Andy Tovell is head of alternative provision at Norfolk County Council he said: "When you're looking at the profile of children across Norfolk we have falling birth rates and that brings some challenges to Norfolk schools.

"There is a real desire to keep schools open, however, when there is an opportunity to reuse provision like this, to expand provision for children with complex and additional needs, it is a really exciting opportunity".