Department for Education warns Stone Lodge Academy, Ipswich

The education watchdog inspected Stone Lodge Academy in January, and its report deemed the school 'inadequate' in terms of quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management.

Meanwhile, personal development at the school, which has about 170 students, was rated as 'requires improvement'.

The Department for Education (DfE) has now issued a warning to Eastern Education Group, the trust that runs the school, which states that the Secretary of State, Bridget Phillipson, may terminate its funding agreement if notice is given to the trust that special measures would be required to improve the institution. 

The trust said it had responded to the DfE to inform it of work being done to improve the school.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson could pull the funding from the school if it doesn't improve (Image: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)

Jonathan Duff had served the school with the warning notice (Image: Gov.uk) The notice, written by the DfE's regional director for the East of England, Jonathan Duff, stated: "As regional director, I need to be satisfied that the trust has capacity to deliver rapid and sustainable improvement at the academy.

"If I am not satisfied that this can be achieved, I will consider whether to terminate the funding agreement in order to transfer the academy to an alternative academy trust.

"In making the decision on whether to terminate the funding agreement, I will consider any written representations the trust wishes to make in response to this termination warning notice."

He has asked Eastern Education Group to provide the department with an action plan following the Ofsted report, and information on what action has been taken.

Nikos Savvas, chief executive of Eastern Education Group (Image: Eastern Education Group) In response to this, Nikos Savvas, chief executive of Eastern Education Group, said that the trust has promptly responded to the demands.

He said: "Eastern Education Group responded promptly and transparently to the DfE with comprehensive evidence of the significant progress already made at the academy since the Ofsted report, including a detailed school improvement plan.

"The DfE has since responded and confirmed that it is reassured 'the trust is making progress in all areas highlighted in the Ofsted report' and the DfE has decided 'not to escalate intervention at this stage'. 

"The DfE has also said that it believes the school improvement plan provided 'will help secure the rapid and sustained improvements that are required'.

"There is work for us to do, but our aim remains to make Stone Lodge, like Abbeygate, One and West Suffolk College, a beacon of excellence."