End of Week Newsletter

A Message from the Principal

As we approach the end of the school year, it will soon be time to say goodbye to colleagues who are moving onto pastures new.

I am sure that they are departing us with the best wishes of the entire school community. The following colleagues will be leaving us at the end of the term:

• Mr Platt (Head of Food Technology)
• Ms McNulty (Teacher of Maths)
• Mr Head (Teacher of Maths)
• Mr Webb-Cook (Head of English)
• Ms O’Malley (Head of MFL)
• Dr Rogers (Assistant Principal)
• Mr Scarce (Head of Music)

Pleasingly, we have a number of colleagues joining us in the new year. I want to take this opportunity to inform our school community of our news starters:

• Ms Brownsell (Assistant Principal)
• Ms Reid (Teacher of Music)
• Ms Scalco (Head of English)
• Mr Howard (Teacher of English)
• Ms Aylward (Teacher of English)
• Mr Bedford (Teacher of History)
• Mr Epemolu (Teacher of French)
• Mr Billing (Teacher of Food Technology)
• Mr Tanner (Teacher of Science)
• Mr Cordice-Berry (Head of Year & Teacher of PE)
• Ms Jarvis (Teacher of French)

You will see we are in a luxurious position of having more starters than leavers. I am keen for this school to improve, at pace, and am pleased to be able to invest in additional staff.

Work Experience and Enrichment

This week has seen our year 10 students attend their work experience placement. This is an extremely valuable experience for the cohort and I am delighted that they received this opportunity. The rest of the school have undertaken two days of enrichment, designed to give them an alternative experience to the normal curriculum.

I am keen for this to be a firm feature in the Academy’s calendar as I truly believe in providing students with unique experiences and activities that do not form part of the ‘usual’ curriculum. It’s great that we’re able to offer these experiences.

Have Your Say: Suffolk School Nursing & Family Services Under Review

Suffolk County Council has launched a public consultation reviewing local Healthy Child Services, which includes our vital School Nursing Teams.

This service provides crucial health, emotional wellbeing, and developmental support for children aged 5–19 (and up to 25 for SEND students).

Because this consultation has been launched right as schools break up for the summer holidays, we want to ensure our parent community doesn’t miss the chance to have their say. Changes to these teams will deeply impact the day-to-day care, medical guidance, and community support available to our children.

How you can help:

• Complete the Survey: Please click the link below to share your views on how these services should look in the future.
• Read the Attached Guides: We have attached the official council letters for parents to this newsletter. (Note: A child-friendly version of the letter is also available upon request if you would like to go through it with your children).
• Spread the Word: Please share this link with friends, family, and anyone in your network who relies on local children’s health services.

Access the Consultation Here.

Thank you for taking the time during a busy end-of-term week to support our school health teams!

A Sports Day to Remember

What a spectacular, high-energy day for Years 7–9!

Moving to a brand-new student choice format, our pupils completely took ownership of their day, choosing from an incredible lineup of 17 different activities. From the high-octane thrills of Cycle Speedway and tactical battles in the IA Champions League to creative showcases in ‘IA’s Got Talent’ and mindful moments in Yoga, there was truly something for everyone.

The day culminated in a roaring atmosphere out on Gainsborough Field for the traditional track finals, celebrating our students’ fantastic determination, teamwork, and house spirit!

Paradigm Trust Values Awards 2026

We were absolutely delighted to host the annual Paradigm Trust Values Awards at Ipswich Academy on Friday 3 July.

It was a wonderful afternoon dedicated to celebrating the hard work, character, and achievements of our fantastic pupils. The event was hosted by our Trust CEO, Bill Holledge, and the awards were presented by the Chair of Trustees. We were thrilled to welcome award winners and their families from across the Paradigm community, including Piper’s Vale, Murrayfield, Woodbridge Road and, of course, Ipswich Academy.

Celebrating Our Core Values

During the ceremony, the Principals from each school took turns reading out the names of the award winners, sharing the inspiring reasons why each student was being recognised. Awards were given to those who have truly gone above and beyond in demonstrating our core values:

• Integrity
• Commitment
• Excellence

Our winners were Wilma Y7, Ellie Y7, Iris Y7, Ajmul Y8, Emilia Y8, Max Y8, William Y8, Dominic Y9, Sheriff Y9, Molly Y9, Lilly Y10, Sophie Y10 and Evie Y10. Hearing about the successes and dedication of these young people was incredibly heartwarming and filled the entire room with pride.

A Huge Thank You!

An event like this relies on the support of our brilliant school community. We would like to give a special mention to:

• Our Year 9 Students: They did a fantastic job acting as ambassadors for Ipswich Academy, welcoming our guests warmly and handing out much-needed cold drinks and ice creams on a warm summer afternoon.
• Our Performers: We were treated to spectacular musical performances from Kyle and Adrianne, who were brilliantly supported by Mr Scarce.

Congratulations to all of our deserving award winners! You are a credit to your schools and your families.

Suffolk Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme Summer 2026

Suffolk HAF programme is now live for bookings for the summer holidays.

HAF provides activities for families who are eligible for means tested Free School Meals (FSM), or other support needs upon referral. All sessions include a healthy meal.

To view listings and book your sessions visit the Eequ website.

We have some provision for children who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or require support but are not eligible for FSM (with a referral form). Please contact us on HAFenquiries@suffolk.gov.uk if you would like to know more details.

Get ready for the school discos in July!

We are excited to announce our upcoming school discos, and we want to see as many students there as possible!

To celebrate the hard work and dedication of our school community, we are offering a significant discount on ticket prices for students who consistently demonstrate excellence in their daily routines.

How to secure a discount

Students can qualify for a reduced ticket price by meeting the following criteria:

• Perfect attendance and punctuality: attending school every day and arriving at all lessons on time.
• Positive learning behaviour: consistently showing a great attitude and high engagement during lessons.

We want to reward those who show up and give their best effort every single day. Let’s make these events really memorable!

Useful Tips for Parents/Carers

Safeguarding

Watch for Risky Behaviour:

If your teenager is breaking rules or acting recklessly, they might be looking for help in their own way. Talk to them about making safer choices and understanding the consequences. Inform the school so we can work together to support them.

Attendance

Help Them Stay Organised:

Assist your child with keeping track of their homework, projects, and exams. Being organised reduces stress and helps them avoid missing school due to feeling overwhelmed.

Reading/Literacy

Introduce New Words Weekly:

Pick a few new words each week to introduce to your child, using them in sentences throughout the week. This will help them learn and remember vocabulary in a fun way.