Site Development

Nestling in the shadow of Norwich’s spectacular Romanesque cathedral is a joyous privilege never to be overestimated. However, delivery of cutting-edge, 21st century education to a large cohort of day pupils in such a constrained site located in Norwich’s beautiful Cathedral Close needs constant and sensitive management, as well as significant annual investment. 

Substantial capital projects over the last decade have seen the opening of the multi-purpose and much-loved Blake Studio on the site of the old gym in 2017 and the successful opening up of the Lower School to a new Pre-Prep (Infants) Department in 2018 through careful conversion of the old pavilion.

More recent major, long-term infrastructure projects successfully completed in 2025 were as follows:

1. An ambitious and much-needed huge extension to the Lower School to provide six roomy new classrooms and a stunning welcome reception area, as well as a new and improved vehicular access off Bishopgate completed in late summer of 2025. This extension allows for additional focus on key disciples (science, design, art, IT) and has enabled the move to accept three-year-olds for the first time as pupils in September 2025.
2. Simultaneously in autumn 2025 we completed the conversion from offices to an iconic educational facility of our new leased premises at 15 Upper King Street, virtually adjacent to the Daynes Sport Centre. At approx 19,000 ft², this provides supplementary senior school teaching spaces for our relocated Geography Dept, and offers spacious and airy social / study spaces, homes our successful Second-Hand Uniform Shop, and provides multiple offices and a large top floor plenary space (The Robinson Room). Of additional note are the lower ground floor secondary refectory that offers much needed lunchtime capacity to complement the old refectory by the Bishop’s Palace, and a large roof terrace offering spectacular views over the Cathedral and cityscape.

Both buildings have had a transformational and positive impact on the school experience for pupils, staff, alumni, friends, visitors and charitable partners, and offer meaningful enhancement to the school estate.

Long term planning for a new dining hall remains under periodic consideration by the Governor Development and Enterprise Committee, once financial constraints allow.