News, Press Releases | 20th August 2020

Students at Ipswich Academy excel in English and Maths

Results for students achieving between a grade 9 and 4 in English and Maths at Ipswich Academy is 62%, despite an unprecedented final year due to the coronavirus lockdown.  They will officially receive their results in school from 9am this morning.

Abbie Thorrington, Principal, says:

“All the staff at Ipswich Academy want to say a big thank you to our year 11 students, their families and our wonderfully supportive community today.   Navigating such an important year in their education through the coronavirus lockdown has been testing for all of us but their hard work, strength and resilience is demonstrated by the results today.  They have all been amazing, we are incredibly proud and will continue to support them as they move into the further education of their choice.”

In line with Government policy, due to the coronavirus lockdown, GCSE grades have been awarded by the school with the support of the official exam regulator Ofqual. Year 11 students have been learning remotely with support from their teachers since schools closed on 20th March.  

Ipswich Academy was rated Good by Ofsted with Outstanding for leadership and management last year.  The Ofsted report recognised that the leaders in the school had ‘transformed the culture of the school’ and were ‘building strong and effective partnerships with the community’ ensuring pupils and their families have the best possible experience.

News, Press Releases | 7th January 2020

New Principal appointed at Ipswich Academy

Former Olympic Triathlete Abbie Thorrington has been appointed Principal of Ipswich Academy. She is poised to build on the school’s recent successes to ensure its pupils develop through meaningful opportunities to be successful and enjoy all aspects of their lives.

Abbie, who is currently Assistant Principal at Ipswich Academy, will take over in June from current Principal Helen Winn, whose successful leadership led the Paradigm Trust school to achieve its best ever GCSE results in August. Eight years on from the 2012 Olympics, Abbie’s hard work and dedication to teaching has paid off as she secures the top job in the acclaimed Ipswich secondary school.

Bill Holledge, Chief Executive of Paradigm Trust, comments:

“Abbie has been a key part of the leadership team which achieved strong results in summer 2019, as well as having been recognised by Ofsted as ‘outstanding’ for leadership and management.   She has demonstrated excellence and ambition in her role as Assistant Principal, building a strong rapport with both our pupils and the wider community. We are delighted to give her the opportunity to continue her work as Principal.”

Abbie Thorrington, newly appointed Principal at Ipswich Academy, says:

“I am incredibly honoured to take on the role of Principal at Ipswich Academy.  I grew up in Ipswich and have always been a part of its community. Since retiring from athletics I have been able to utilise that experience, including the dedication and resilience developed through training, to support my teaching career here.  I have big ambitions for the pupils of Ipswich Academy and, as we enter another Olympic year, will do everything in my power to make all our pupils’ dreams a reality.”

A recent Ofsted report recognised that Ipswich Academy leaders, including Abbie Thorrington, had ‘transformed the culture of the school’ and were ‘building strong and effective partnerships with the community’ ensuring pupils and their families have the best possible experience. The school is currently oversubscribed for places.

News, Press Releases | 26th September 2019

BBC Radio Suffolk feature

Our recent achievements were featured on BBC Radio Suffolk

Listen to what they had to say

News, Press Releases | 26th September 2019

Ipswich Star article celebrating our success

“We work to ensure that every child’s future is determined by their talent and hard work” – read the full story in the Ipswich Star  

News, Press Releases | 18th September 2019

East Anglian Daily Times feature

The East Anglia Times today ran a feature celebrating the amazing success of out Ipswich Academies:

EastAngliaTimescutting

Announcements, Press Releases | 22nd August 2019

Best ever GCSE results at Ipswich Academy

Results for students achieving between a grade 9 and 4 in English and Maths is 56%, up 12% on 2018. 19 students achieved the top grade 9 across a host of subjects including English, maths, languages, art and science.

Helen Winn, Principal at Ipswich Academy says:

“Ipswich Academy is incredibly proud of its year 11 students today. We have never had better results in the history of the school and it rounds off what has been an absolutely brilliant year for Ipswich Academy. All our staff work exceptionally hard to narrow the gap for disadvantaged children and these results are evidence that it’s paying off.”

Ipswich Academy achieved an Ofsted Good rating this year with Outstanding for leadership and management for the first time, making it one of the best in town.

The Ofsted report recognised that Helen and the other leaders in the school had ‘transformed the culture of the school’ and were ‘building strong and effective partnerships with the community’ ensuring pupils and their families have the best possible experience at Ipswich Academy, an achievement that has led to the school being oversubscribed for places in September 2019.

Announcements, Press Releases | 29th July 2019

New Ipswich Star article about our principal, Helen Winn

Meet the principal of one of Ipswich’s biggest schools

Announcements, Press Releases | 26th July 2019

Ipswich Academy featured in Ipswich Star

There was great coverage of our academy and Helen Winn the Ipswich Star. You can read the article here.

Announcements, Press Releases | 11th July 2019

Ipswich Academy Principal hailed as Educational Leader of the Year at Suffolk County Council Raising the Bar Awards

Paradigm Trust is pleased to announce Helen Winn, Principal of Ipswich Academy, has won the Educational Leader and Setting of the Year Award at this year’s Suffolk County Council Raising the Bar Awards. 

Helen was nominated for her unrivalled contribution to teaching and learning confirmed by achieving an Ofsted Good rating this year with Outstanding for leadership and management for the first time in the school’s history, making it one of the best in town.  

The report recognised that Helen and the other leaders in the school had ‘transformed the culture of the school’ and were ‘building strong and effective partnerships with the community’ ensuring pupils and their families have the best possible experience at Ipswich Academy, an achievement that has led to the school being oversubscribed for September 2019.

Helen Winn said: “I am thrilled to have won this award and want to pass on the credit to my amazing team and community, including the pupils, staff, parents and directors who have worked so incredibly hard to get us here.” 

Raising the Bar was set up by Suffolk County Council with the aim of improving levels of educational attainment across the county, and ensuring every child in Suffolk can achieve their full potential. The awards are designed to share best practice and highlight excellence across the education sector, rewarding those who have made an outstanding contribution to the furthering of this goal.

The winners were announced at a special celebration event in Ipswich’s Wherstead Park.

Announcements, Press Releases | 26th January 2018

Dedication of Ipswich Academy pupil praised by parents on Young Carers Awareness Day 2018

Click to read press cutting.

Last updated January 26, 2018