School Development Plan

Our plan is comprised of three key strands:

1. Norfolk House in the Wider World

Aim: Norfolk House will build a prominent profile beyond the school gates, informed by and reflective of, its local context, its community and the interests of its pupils.

Benefit for Pupils: Norfolk House will build a prominent profile beyond the school gates, informed by and reflective of, its local context, its community and the interests of its pupils.

Success Criteria:

• Frequent experiential opportunities are integral to the pupil offer at Norfolk House
• The school’s communication modes and online presence are significantly expanded
• Pupils at all stages have a meaningful awareness of the important issues within our changing world

Standout Achievements To Date:

• Partnership with SVITLO School for displaced Ukrainian children, involving pen-pal correspondence, joint ‘virtual’ assemblies and many fundraising drives
• Partnership with nearby Coppetts Wood Primary School, including joint school trips and activities and our annual joint Fireworks Night!
• ‘Food for Friendship’ challenge in 2023/24, a special collaboration with SVITLO School
• Norfolk House pupils’ participation in the Young Voices programme
• Fundraising for the local Wave Café social enterprise
• Weekly pupil visits to the Meadows care home
• Achieving the Eco Schools Award
• Achieving the TfL Travel Stars award for sustainable travel
• Introduction of cycling proficiency training for pupils in Years 4-6
• Introduction of Holiday Club for pupils and non-pupils in 2024

2. Championing Creativity

Aim: Norfolk House will actively champion pupils’ creativity and independence in the classroom and beyond

Benefit to Pupils: Pupils will develop a stronger instinct for lateral thinking and creative problem solving. They will feel intrinsically motivated to create work to be proud of through a desire to attain mastery and a sense of autonomy and purpose.

Success Criteria:

• Pupils are be increasingly empowered to take ownership of their own learning
• Pupils are able to talk with authority about their work and identify its strengths
• Creative tasks/projects will permeate the curriculum and age-range spectrums
• Norfolk House is recognised within the Bellevue group as a leader in pupil creativity

Standout Achievements To Date:

• Introduction of LAMDA (drama) Club in 2023/24
• New art leadership staff team for 2023/24
• Pupils participating in public speaking and debating competitions – with many of them winning prizes!
• Raised profile of Poetry Week, author visits, writing challenges
• Introduction of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) within computing and acquisition of 3D printer in school
• Several public/inter-school performances for Senior Prep choir
• Enhanced role for project-based learning within lessons

3. Inspiring Environments

Aim: Norfolk House will strategically build capacity within a school fit for the 2030s

Benefit to Pupils: Pupils will benefit from carefully curated learning environments and the optimum deployment of staff and facilities within an innovative timetable. The school and its operation will provide the best-yet support for their care, learning and play

Success Criteria:

• The school has a coordinated strategy to optimise space for learning and play
• The infrastructure of the school matches the quality of the education
• Parents choose Norfolk House partly because of its facilities rather than despite them

Standout Achievements to Date:

• Programme of internal improvements to Upper School site in autumn 2023
• New programme of residentials from Y2-6, including re-introduction of overseas residential (Year 6 now visit Brussels each summer!)
• Expanded range of educational trips, including Kentish Town Farm, the Barbican, Parliament and many more
• New venues for PE lessons, including for ice skating, tennis, basketball and capoeira
• Introduction of Senior Prep ski trip in 2025
• Expanded programme of weekly inter-school fixtures
• Renovation of the Upper School playground in spring/summer 2025, with the installation of new fixed play equipment