Face mask information
Dear Parent/Carer
As you may be aware, late Tuesday night the government changed their advice surrounding the wearing of face masks in school. Previously they had said that the wearing of masks should not be necessary in any school. This has now been updated and the Department for Education has stated;
“Nationwide, while the Government is not recommending face coverings are necessary, schools will have the discretion to require face coverings in communal areas if they believe it is right in their particular circumstances.
In addition, the government will advise additional measures are taken in areas where the transmission of the virus is high. In these areas, defined as areas of national government intervention as listed on gov.uk, the government’s guidance will state that face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils in secondary schools when moving around the school, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. It will not be necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom, where protective measures already mean the risks are lower, and where they can inhibit learning.”
Our local area has an incredibly low rate of COVID 19 infection and transmission and as a school we have taken a number of precautions to minimise any risk, as outlined in previous correspondence to you and available on the website. Therefore, in line with the above government guidance, we will not be making the wearing of masks mandatory in any area of the school.
However, I absolutely recognise that some students will feel more comfortable wearing a face mask in the corridors and/or in the classroom and I am very happy for them to do so. Please note that masks must be plain in appearance, no logos or motifs, and must be worn appropriately and sensibly. Any student intentionally misusing a mask will be required to take it off.
I will of course review this decision in light of any updated government guidance and any changes in the local situation.
Yours sincerely
Abbie Thorrington
Principal
Updated: Appeals procedure for summer 2020 exams
Due to recent changes around GCSE grades for the academic year 19/20, we have adapted our process with regard to results and appeals. You can view this document here or by going to the our policies page on the Paradigm Trust website.
Please note that the appeals process has been written with the information that we currently have and it could be subject to change if the Government makes further changes.
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.
GCSE Results update – 18th August
Dear year 11 student,
GCSE Results update
Following on from the Department of Education announcement yesterday evening, I can confirm that your GCSE results that you receive on Thursday 20th will be based on your Centre Assessed Grades (CAG). The Department for Education also added that further results which have been moderated by Ofqual, the exams regulator will be released next week. Whichever of the two grades is higher will be your official GCSE grade for that subject.
Once we have further clarification from the Department of Education and Ofqual around specifics, I will communicate this with you.
I understand that due to the fast paced nature of the news around GCSE results, it may be confusing. If you do have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Adequate staff will also be available on Thursday to support you and answer any questions.
I look forward to seeing you on Thursday 20 August.
Yours faithfully
Abbie Thorrington
Principal
End of term and provisional plans for next academic year (Y10)
Dear students, parents and carers
Following on from my letter on 9 July and the whole school assembly today, I would like to detail the latest information before we break up for summer.
We are proceeding with our plan and will open on Thursday 3 September, as previously announced. We are still awaiting confirmation from our Directors as to whether our local plans have been approved. We have proposed in line with Government guidance recommendations for a staggered start and finish time for the day. This would mean year 10 and 11 students start at 08.45 and finish at 15.00. Year 7, 8 and 9 students start at 09.00 and finish at 15.15. Once these have been passed I will communicate with you via text message and the documents will be posted on our website. In late August I will be hosting a virtual assembly to go through the plans in detail prior to students returning in September.
All year groups will be able to continue to access the work set on Google classrooms, each department has also set summer tasks which I would encourage students to complete. In addition, teachers from various subjects will be offering 1:1 virtual tutorials which will focus on any misconceptions students may have had from completing the work over the past weeks. Students will be able to sign up for these sessions, but spaces will be limited. I have attached on a separate page, the planned sessions each week. If you would like to book then please call the school reception or email info@ipswichacademy.org .
I am excited to announce that we will be launching a student ‘House System’ in September. All staff and students will be assigned to one of three houses, devised from our Trust’s values. The House System will celebrate student success in all aspects of school life as well as promoting opportunities for leadership, competition between houses and community involvement. I look forward to sharing this further in September.
Due to the changes that we are proposing to the set up of the school in line with Government guidance, students may not have the same base group tutor as they had last year. We will try to avoid changes where possible, however there will be some. I will be able to share base group tutors during a virtual assembly that I will deliver prior to students returning in late August. Lockers will also be out of use for the start of term whilst we redistribute them to the areas of the school that students will be in. If students have any belongings they wish to collect from their lockers prior to September, please contact the school via telephone or email to arrange a visit. We will be continuing with cashless catering from September, if you need any support setting up a sQuidpay account, please contact the school reception.
The last three months have been unprecedented times for us all, the team at Ipswich Academy are very much looking forward to working with you all next year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will always get back to you.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Yours faithfully
Abbie Thorrington
Principal
1:1 Virtual Tutorials
- These sessions are being put on to help you with any work you are stuck on or found difficult whilst the school was closed.
- Book your session through info@ipswichacademy.org or by calling reception.
- Make sure you say what it is that you would like to talk to a teacher about eg. the poem Remains for English / fractions for maths.
- You will be sent a link to the Google Meet before your session to your school email.
- If you cannot attend, please contact reception and let them know.
- Sessions will run each week during the summer break on the following days:
| Tuesdays | Wednesdays | Thursdays | Fridays | |
| 10:00 | Business | English | Maths | iMedia |
| 11:00 | Computer Science | Geography | Health and Fitness | History |
End of term and provisional plans for next academic year (Y7-9)
Dear students, parents and carers
Following on from my letter on 9 July and the whole school assembly today, I would like to detail the latest information before we break up for summer.
We are proceeding with our plan and will open on Thursday 3 September, as previously announced. We are still awaiting confirmation from our Directors as to whether our local plans have been approved. We have proposed in line with Government guidance recommendations for a staggered start and finish time for the day. This would mean year 10 and 11 students start at 08.45 and finish at 15.00. Year 7, 8 and 9 students start at 09.00 and finish at 15.15. Once these have been passed I will communicate with you via text message and the documents will be posted on our website. In late August I will be hosting a virtual assembly to go through the plans in detail prior to students returning in September.
All year groups will be able to continue to access the work set on Google classrooms, each department has also set summer tasks which I would encourage students to complete.
I am excited to announce that we will be launching a student ‘House System’ in September. All staff and students will be assigned to one of three houses, devised from our Trust’s values. The House System will celebrate student success in all aspects of school life; as well as promoting opportunities for leadership, competition between houses and community involvement. I look forward to sharing this further in September.
Due to the changes that we are proposing to the set up of the school in line with Government guidance, students may not have the same base group tutor as they had last year. We will try to avoid changes where possible, however there will be some. I will be able to share base group tutors from September during a virtual assembly that I will deliver prior to students returning. Lockers will also be out of use for the start of term whilst we redistribute them to the areas of the school that students will be in. If students have any belongings they wish to collect from their lockers prior to September, please contact the school via telephone or email to arrange a visit. We will be continuing with cashless catering from September, if you need any support setting up a sQuidpay account, please contact the school reception.
The last three months have been unprecedented times for us all, the team at Ipswich Academy are very much looking forward to working with you all next year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will always get back to you.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Yours faithfully
Abbie Thorrington
Principal
RSE letter
Dear parent/carer,
The Paradigm Trust Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE) engagement process is now complete.
The results of the engagement process are now on the Paradigm Trust website and can be accessed via your school website or at https://paradigmtrust.org/rshe-engagement-results/
The publication of the results documents follows an almost year long process including open information meetings in all Paradigm schools, meetings with Academy Councils across the Trust and a month long survey period.
There are 3 main documents:
- An executive summary of the engagement process and findings (8 pages)
- A full summary and analysis of results (17 pages)
- An appendix containing all written responses to the survey, where the survey question allowed for this. (58 pages)
The survey documents have been read and discussed by the board who have agreed that teaching in line with the new requirements can begin in September 2020. As the main engagement process was completed before school COVID closure, we have no need to take up the government’s offer delaying the introduction of the new requirements.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Yours faithfully
Abbie Thorrington
Principal
The Pink Orange – Helping Suffolk this Summer Holiday
Click here for more information about The Pink Orange.
End of year 11 letter
Dear year 11 students,
The last four months have been unprecedented times for us all. I would firstly like to congratulate you all on your hard work, dedication and levels of maturity shown throughout these uncertain times.
Following previous announcements, your GCSE results will be available for you to collect on Thursday 20 August. Our plan is for students to come and collect their results in person; however if Thursday 20 August arrives and you have coronavirus symptoms or have been advised to stay at home please do not come into school. Please call the school and we will arrange for the results to be delivered. If you are picking up your results in person, you will need to abide by social distancing and handwashing expectations. Parents/carers will have to wait outside, only students are allowed inside the school building to collect their results.
The below table outlines the times where you can come and collect your results. Please ensure you come at your allotted time, if you miss your time slot, please ensure you come after 12.00pm or call Ipswich Academy reception to arrange a convenient time to collect them.
| Time | Area | Base group |
| 9.00 | SYSZ | 11-1 |
| 9.15 | Blue | 11-2 |
| 10.00 | SYSZ | 11-3 |
| 10.15 | Blue | 11-4 |
| 11.00 | SYSZ | 11-5 |
| 11.15 | Blue | 11-6 |
| 12.00 | SYSZ | Catch up opportunity if you miss your slot |
Throughout the day, support and guidance will be available on site for students from staff and our careers advisor.
Thank you to everyone who has returned their loaned devices and resources, we still have a few outstanding. Please could you ensure you return them to Ipswich Academy reception.
The team at Ipswich Academy would like to wish you all the very best in your future endeavours and we look forward to seeing you on results day.
Take care and stay safe.
Yours faithfully,
Abbie Thorrington
Principal
Music Tuition
If you would like to sign your Child(ren) up for Music Tuition please click here to access the Application form.