| Motto | Shaping The Future |
|---|---|
| Established | 2011 |
| Type | High School |
| Headteacher | Perry Linsley |
| Specialism | Arts & Engineering College |
| Location | London Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 7DS England |
| Local authority | Suffolk |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11–16 |
| Colours | Blue & Grey |
| Website | Pakefield |
Pakefield High School is a high school in Pakefield, a suburb of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. The school opened in September 2011, initially with Years 7 and 8 only, using buildings which were previously Pakefield Middle School.[1] The school became the first new state high school to be built in Suffolk for over 20 years as part of the reorganisation of schools in Lowestoft, a process which saw the closure of eight middle schools and a change from transfer to high school at age 13 to transfer at age 11.[1][2]
The school is expected to cater for around 900 students aged from 11 to 16 and to cost £26.5 million to build.[3] It was expected to open in September 2010[4], although this was delayed due to the discovery of Great Crested Newts on the school site.[5] Perry Linsley, formerly head of Stradbroke Business and Enterprise College, is the Headteacher.[1]
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Building is taking place on the site of the former Pakefield Middle School.[5] The government Office of the Schools Adjudicator approved the reorganisation proposal with the recommendation that integrated plans be proposed for the entire site, including Pakefield Primary School.[3]
Building work on the site was delayed in May 2010 when Great Crested Newts, a protected species, were discovered on the site. As a result Year 9 pupils who were expected to transfer to the school in September 2011 were required to join to one of the other high schools in Lowestoft.[5] Year 7 and 8 pupils will use the current Middle School buildings in 2011-2012 until the site can be completed.[5][6] Building work was expected to be complete by September 2012[5], although funding has been problematic.[6][7]
There was local opposition to the plan to build at Pakefield. Concerns were raised over the size of the site and issues relating to traffic in the area as well as mixing of children from as young as 3 to 16 at the same location.[3][8][9] Sites at either Elm Tree Middle School or Gisleham Middle School were proposed as alternatives.[8]