Woodton Primary School benefits from Reclaim the Rain flood resilience work

Woodton Primary School, located just outside Bungay, has benefited from flood resilience improvements delivered through Reclaim the Rain, a joint project between Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils.  

The work has helped manage rainwater that was causing disruption at the school, particularly around the front entrance where sandbags had become a permanent feature. There was also regular ponding on parts of the playground and in other areas of the site, affecting day-to-day use of space at the village school. 

Working closely with staff and pupils, Reclaim the Rain explored opportunities for water reuse and better flood management tailored to the school's needs, with the children helping to shape ideas and contribute to the final result.  

Improvements include a new rain garden, upgraded drainage channels, replacement pipework and SuDS (sustainable drainage systems) pods to slow the flow of rainwater and reduce standing water. 

The changes are already having an impact. The sandbags have been removed, there has been no further flooding at the front of the building, and pupils have helped plant and maintain the rain garden, creating a greener outdoor space for learning and play, while the courtyard area has been cleared and improved so it can be used more effectively by children. 

Cllr Pat Gould, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for Countryside, Coast and Culture, said: "It is really encouraging to see a project like this making such a visible difference at Woodton Primary School. Removing the need for permanent sandbags and improving parts of the playground that children use every day is a fantastic result." 

Cllr George Boyd, local member for Waveney Valley, who recently visited the school to see the completed work said: "I'm delighted that work has been done to tackle the problem of flooding at the school. What is great about this work is the way it connects flood resilience with learning. It's fantastic that the pupils got to help design the final measures that were implemented." 

Dawn Thomas, Headteacher at the school said - "The children love our new rain garden; it's made a real difference to the school. The children can have fun and we are very grateful that the building has stopped flooding when we get heavy rain."  

The Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA) has commended this project as a great example of innovative flood management, built around specific community needs. Henry Cator, chairman of the NSFA, said: "This project shows with practical action, we can adapt to the challenges of flooding. Reclaim the Rain is doing great work across Norfolk and Suffolk, and the work in this school has created a more resilient environment for pupils and staff."  

Reclaim the Rain is a joint project between Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils that is developing innovative ways to reduce flooding and improve water resilience in small rural communities. The £6.4 million project is funded by the UK Government and managed by the Environment Agency as part of the £150 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme and runs until March 2027. 

Through the Department for Education's SuDS in Schools programme, match funded by Reclaim the Rain, six schools across Norfolk and Suffolk have been supported to introduce sustainable drainage and water management measures tailored to their sites.