The first ever headteacher of a brand new Norfolk primary school has spoken of her excitement as she prepares to start the role.

Emily McMillen has been appointed as headteacher of the newly-named Silfield Oak Primary Academy in Wymondham.

The school is due to open in September 2025, taking its first reception-age class, and will have an expected capacity of 420 pupils once full.

Emily (below), who will move to her new role from Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School in Swaffham where she is the current headteacher, said she couldn’t wait to get started on planning for a brand new school.

Emily, who will move to her new role from Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School in Swaffham where she is the current headteacher, said she couldn’t wait to get started on planning for a brand new school.

Further recruitment for the school is expected to start in Spring 2025 with plans also included a sports hall and MUGA pitch for both pupil and community use.

Initial building work on the new school is expected to start next month with parent and community consultations also planned.

It will be run by Unity Schools Partnership which currently has 35 primary, secondary and special schools and will increase this to include seven schools across Norfolk by the end of the year.

Unity Schools Partnership currently runs three Norfolk-based schools – Robert Kett Primary in Wymondham and Colman Infant and Colman Junior schools in Eaton – and is due to lead a new special school being built in Great Yarmouth.

Later this year, it will also add Heartsease Primary Academy, Lingwood Primary Academy, Valley Primary Academy and Henderson Green Primary Academy after the HEART Education Trust was granted permission to join the Unity Schools Partnership.

Emily writes:

“Being offered the opportunity to lead on a new school from the first day is not something that comes along very often and I am really excited to be the first ever headteacher of Silfield Oak Primary Academy.

“I think it is really important that the school acts as a big part of the local community and I can’t wait to start working with all partners to ensure we have a school that we are all proud of.

“My aim is to create a school that ensures all pupils can flourish – socially, emotionally and academically.”