Sprowston Community Academy takes on additional 250 pupils

Sprowston Community Academy now has a two-storey building with 14 English and Religious Studies classrooms.

There is also a new library alongside two outdoor multi-use games areas.

The new facility meant that the school could accommodate a further 250 students who joined in September this year. 

Inside the new library at Sprowston Community Academy (Image: Sonya Duncan)

An official opening ceremony took place at the Cannerby Lane site on Wednesday.

Liz Wood, headteacher at the school, said: "We are thrilled with the new building. 

"It is a great place from which we can really promote English and the value of reading.   

Liz Wood, headteacher at Sprowston Community Academy (Image: Sonya Duncan)

"The library is full every lunchtime and it is lovely to see the students engaging so positively with the opportunities and resources that this offers them." 

The new Margaret Atwood building at Sprowston Community Academy (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The new building has been named after the Canadian author and poet Margaret Atwood who responded to a request to be part of the opening ceremony by sending a short video.

In the video, she spoke about the time she spent writing in Norwich and how she hopes the students will be equally inspired to write.

Pentaco Construction carried out the work and representatives from the Horsham St Faith company attended the ceremony. 

Sprowston's Conservative county councillor John Ward was among those who attended the event.

Mr Ward said: "It's a beautiful building with a number of classrooms and offices all done to a very good standard. 

"All the pupils are really pleased with the facility and it is much needed with the number of people now living in the town."

Sprowston councillor John Ward at the ceremony (Image: Sonya Duncan)

A spokeswoman for the school said the Maragaret Atwood centre "reflects the growth of housing in the area as well as the growing popularity of the school". 

The new building means the school can permanently house the English department in one space, rather than spread across the school as it previously was.

A cake baked for the opening ceremony of the Margaret Atwood building (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The project forms part of Norfolk County Council's £169m school building investment programme in which the authority is building or significantly expanding eight schools across the county.