L-R: Ben Gummer MP, principal Nancy Robinson, associate principle Ian Bloom, Academy council member John Helleur, Chief Executive of the Learning Schools Trust John Baumber, and Academy council member Lynda Riching

Ipswich: High school has first day as town’s new academy

by hollie-rae merrick Wednesday, March 2, 2011
10:48 AM

After months of preparation an Ipswich high school has finally opened its doors as a fully fledged academy.

The 850 pupils of the former Holywells High School, in Lindbergh Road, are now officially students at the Ipswich Academy.

The school opened under the new title yesterday, and staff welcomed Ipswich MP Ben Gummer who has been an advocate of the project.

Nancy Robinson, the new principal at the school, said she was delighted that the day had finally arrived.

She said: “I’m very excited, I’ve had a term and a half to prepare and I was just really keen to get going.

“I am thrilled and delighted that we were able to open this week as the idea of becoming an academy has been a long process.

“Although the students will not notice a real difference just yet, it is really fantastic for the staff who have been waiting for this day to come.”

Ms Robinson said that she was convinced by the new learning model that will be put in place at the academy when she saw the work of the school’s Swedish sponsors Kunskapsskolan.

The main subjects – English, maths, science, IT and languages – will all be taught in a stepped programme, meaning pupils will progress at their own pace. Other subjects will be taught thematically so that students will be given “themed curriculum” sessions.

Mr Gummer said that it was a delight to have been present on the academy’s first day.

“This is something which town residents wholeheartedly deserve,” he said.

“It is an extremely exciting day for the whole of the town. It is something which is a very long time coming, and reflects the great efforts of the governors, Ian Bloom, Nancy Robinson, the county council and myself – who have fought to ensure that we secured the funding for this project.

“We have succeeded in securing this money and I am really excited for the staff and the students because in the past people have been very quick to say bad things about the school, but this is the time that it shines.”

A new uniform and school logo which will be brought into effect in the summer term.

The transition period for all pupils to be taught according to the new curriculum is expected to last until 2013, when the new academy building will be opened next to Gainsborough Sports Centre.

n Are you pleased to see Holywells High School transformed into the Ipswich Academy? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, or e-mail eveningstar letters@eveningstar.co.uk

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6 comments

DO, not being negative att all, but it's a school and they are head and deputy head. Why try and dress it up with fancy words? I agree, not all kids are bad but there are different levels of intelligence. Mix them up and the people who do not want to learn drag down the others, it cannot be any other way as you have to teach to the lowest level. Sorry I said teach but they are not teachers anymore so what is it that they do?

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R2 D2

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
if this give this give the kids a bit of pride and enthusiasm to learn and get ahead in life ,, ya get it on , cos if they dont , they will be left behind in this world ..

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pablo gonzalas

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Boo to the nay-sayers for spoiling this lovely photo-opportunity. It's great to see Ipswich at the forefront of this education initiative: one day all schools will be academies, some may even become members of a chain of schools, managed by a sponsor or one of the big "education management" companies. The good thing about academies is that they are independent and empowered: not only can they tweak the national curriculum, but they can also tweak the length of the school day, week and year, along with the terms and condition of the employees (or "teachers", as they used to be called). Improved educational achievements and standards don't have to cost more: in fact education can be made much more "efficient", so bring on the academification!

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martha farquhar

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Something positive happens, and people are still being negative...( dlaenn & R2D2 ).....Surely it is better to try and improve, than to ignore and do nothing at all. As for saying it will be the same kids going there, not all children from that area are bad, and no matter what school your child go to, there are always going to be bad crowds. I hope it works out.

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D O

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Why principal and associate principal? Can it not just be head and deputy head or is this an americanised school! Seems to me that, also with change from high school to academy, it's just a play on words.

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R2 D2

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Thank you for cheering me up this morning, I was a pupil at Holywells and left in 1996, Either sponsers have to much money or the school has improved dramatically, I would like to give the school the benefit of doubt but I can't. Sorry but it will still have the same kids from the same areas going to the school. Calling it an Academy will make no difference

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dlaenn

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

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