Ipswich Academy
 | |
| Type | Academy |
|---|---|
| Executive Principal | Amanda Philips |
| Chair of Governors | John Helleur |
| Location |
Braziers Wood Road Ipswich Suffolk IP3 0SP England Coordinates: 52°02′14″N 1°11′35″E / 52.03721°N 1.19297°E |
| DfE number | 935/4606 |
| DfE URN | 136453 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports Pre-academy reports |
| Staff | 70 |
| Students | 903 (of which 80 are in the sixth form) |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Colours | Black and Purple |
| Former name | Holywells High School |
| Website | School homepage |
Ipswich Academy (formerly Holywells High School) is a mixed secondary school and sixth form in Ipswich, Suffolk for students aged 11 to 18. Since September 2010, it has been an Academy.
History
In September 2010, Holywells High School become an academy, originally ran by the Learning Schools Trust, and was renamed Ipswich Academy.[1] In 2011, the academy established a Sixth Form.
The Learning Schools Trust, as part of the government's academy programme, had invested £16m into a new building, which was officially opened in November 2013 by the Education Secretary, Michael Gove. The new building boasts light, bright, airy learning spaces, a College system which means students feel part of a "school within a school", advanced IT systems and the only 3G sports pitch in the area, built to FA standards.
The school operates a personalised learning method of teaching, and believes not only that students should progress according to ability rather than age, but also that "every child can achieve more than he or she thought possible".
In early 2015, following an unsuccessful Ofsted report and more poor exam results, the decision was made by the DFE to broker a change of sponsor for Ipswich Academy. In Summer 2015, Paradigm Education Trust which successfully runs three primary schools in London took over control of the Academy. Amanda Philips, Paradigm's CEO has taken up the Executive Headship at Ipswich Academy, five days per week.
Ms Philips will remain as the Academy's Executive Principal, although the school is planning to appoint a substantive Principal to work alongside her in partnership with The Future Leaders Trust's, Talented Leaders Programme.
References
- ↑ Hollie-Rae Merrick (2 March 2011). "Ipswich: High school has first day as town's new academy". Ipswich Star.