PRESS RELEASE

13 February 2026 [FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

Sacred Heart Primary School to Begin New Chapter in Swaffham

A Swaffham school is set to transfer from a Catholic school to a non-denominational primary school to help ensure its future success for children in the town.

Sacred Heart Primary School will stay open for pupils but under a new academy trust. The decision will not affect plans to rebuild the school.

The change follows a review by the Diocese of East Anglia in partnership with the St John the Baptist Multi Academy Trust which concluded that the needs of the local community have evolved and that a school model shaped more closely around those needs will provide the greatest benefit for children and families in the area. This will include a transfer to a non-Catholic Multi Academy Trust and really positive discussions with potential Trusts are already underway to secure the school’s future.

Although Sacred Heart has been a valued part of the Diocese’s family of schools for many years, the number of Catholic pupils on roll has significantly reduced. It is now the right moment to ensure the school is more closely aligned with the current educational requirements of the community in Swaffham.

The decision was made by Bishop Peter Collins, with assurance that the interests of pupils, staff and families, under the stewardship of the Trust, remain at the forefront throughout this period of change.

Bishop Peter explained: “The Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Swaffham has served generations of children. I am conscious of its history and of the great work undertaken by the Daughters of Divine Charity. Whilst grateful for the legacy we have inherited, it is time for the school to evolve so as to better address the needs of the contemporary community in Swaffham. The decision that has been taken will enable the School to strengthen the provision of educational opportunities for all pupils. The needs of the children have always been paramount in fashioning what is planned. I am most grateful to those at the Department for Education and at Norfolk County Council who have facilitated the processes that have led us to this announcement. Let us look to the future with great confidence.”

Joe Richardson, CEO of St John the Baptist Multi Catholic Academy Trust, commented: “Our commitment has always been to do what is best for the children, staff, and wider community. The decision to transfer the school to another Trust will increase choice for parents and carers in the local community and provides a path for the delivery of a new school building promised to the community some years ago. As we work towards a transfer, parents, carers and children can be assured that we will continue to do all that is possible to support the school as it prepares for a new chapter.”

Norfolk County Council is in discussions with the Daughters of Divine Charity about the acquisition of the site, with a proposal going to the council’s Cabinet on 2 March.

Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council commented: “Our priority is to ensure that children in the Swaffham area can have a good education within their local community, so we are proposing that we buy the school site to secure its future. We have a duty to ensure there are sufficient school places for children locally and we see this as an exciting opportunity to secure a new building as part of the government’s School Rebuild Programme, with a new trust. We want parents locally to have a choice of high performing schools.”

The Department for Education, St John the Baptist Multi Academy Trust and Norfolk County Council will oversee arrangements for the necessary changes to the school moving forward. Their shared endeavours will ensure stability and continuity for pupils, while supporting a strong future for education in the area.

ENDS

 

Contact Charlie Bohan-Hurst, Director of Communications for more information: communications@rcdea.org.uk