A long-running saga for a city school is finally coming to an end, as government funding to make it suitable for all of its pupils is confirmed.

Angel Road Junior and Infant School is one of just two Norfolk schools included in the  fresh £2bn tranche of the government's School Rebuilding Programme funding, with the other being in King's Lynn.

The announcement comes after Angel Road Junior was forced to close in July 2021 after a second incident in the space of a month where debris fell from a class ceiling. 

Norwich Evening News:

The incident meant children from the junior school had to move over to the infant school premises, across the road.

And while the dilapidated former junior school building - which is over 100 years old - remains unused, the combined site will benefit from the cash injection.

This will include updating and modernising buildings by creating state-of-the-art sports halls, music rooms, science labs and dining areas.

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith visited Angel Road Schools on November 4.

Following the visit, Ms Smith wrote to education secretary Gillian Keegan to ask her to look at the prioritisation of Angel Road Infant School's capital bid.

Norwich Evening News:

After learning of the government backing, she said: "I was delighted that Angel Road Schools have been successful in the school rebuilding programme.

"I visited the Angel Road Infant School site, where the children from both schools are now being educated, following a building project last summer.

"Following my visit, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Education to press the case and ask her to approve the Angel Road Infant School capital bid considering the extremely difficult times that parents, children and teachers have gone through in recent years on the Angel Road sites.

Norwich Evening News:

"I know that this has been an anxious time for parents and children, with the changes to the sites."

It's not yet known specifically how much Angel Road Schools have been given but all new buildings will be more energy efficient for future winter resilience and net-zero carbon in operation.

Ms Smith added: "As MP for Norwich North, my priority will always be ensuring that our children receive the best education possible.

"So I share the delight of the community that the consolidated site will be made fit for purpose for this and future generations of pupils."