End of Week Newsletter

A Message from the Principal

I was delighted to see so many year 9s and their parents/carers attend Options Evening on Thursday.

It’s an important milestone in a child’s education and one that all at the school are here to support. As outlined at the evening, we run a pathway model where we encourage a suitable curriculum for each student, one that is aspirational and supportive for every individual. If there are any questions following the evening, please contact Dr Rogers, Assistant Principal, at the school. Year 9 parents/carers should have received their options evening letter on Friday evening which outlines their child’s personalised pathway and the options that are open to them. Option choices must be finalised by Monday 16 March.

Year 11 have now completed their final set of mocks. The hard work does not stop now as we enter the final run into their GCSE exams. We are really excited to see what this year group can achieve.

I want to share some updates that I communicated to the students that started on Monday.

1. We’ve introduced corridor passes in the form of lanyards which students are given by their teachers if they have permission to be out of class. These are colour coded to the zone of the building in which they should be in.

2. Whilst I believe that no student comes into school with the intention of making a bad choice, I understand that may happen from time to time. If a student does, and is consequently removed from a lesson, they have five minutes to make their way to our removal room; the hub. The intention is that students use this space to regulate before returning to their next lesson

3. We take punctuality very seriously at Ipswich Academy. Each half term, if a child arrives late to school they’ll receive one warning and a lunch detention for 20 minutes each time thereafter. If the late arrival was out of their control, we will of course not penalise a student but we ask that parents contact us to let us know if that is the case.

This is such a short half term. Only four weeks left until Easter and another well earned break. There’ll be plenty of hard work taking place in the next four weeks and I am really looking forward to seeing this unfold.

Upcoming Events

The Y9 Parents Consultation Evening will be taking place on 12 March 2026. Please look out for further information about when the booking system will be available.

Useful Tips for Parents/Carers

Safeguarding

Be Aware of Radical Views:

If your child starts talking about extreme or unusual beliefs, they may be influenced by something online or in their social circles. Have an open conversation and encourage critical thinking. You can contact Prevent directly if you’re concerned or let us know at school and we can advise you.

Attendance

Set a Regular Bedtime:

Ensure your child has a consistent bedtime to get enough sleep and be ready for school. Well-rested children are more likely to attend and stay focused during lessons.

Reading/Literacy

Encourage Conversations About New Topics:

Discuss different subjects, such as history, science, or current events, and encourage your child to ask questions. These conversations introduce