A new school is getting ready to open in Ipswich town centre later in the year after taking over a historic premises dating back to the 14th century.
Redstone Hall School will soon welcome pupils aged between seven and 16 with a range of additional needs, including social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) challenges.
The school is due to open in February and will have capacity for up to 30 pupils.
The school will open in a building which was originally constructed in 1399, and was acquired in May 2025 by the Polaris Community, one of the UK’s largest children’s services providers.
Tanya Fuller, the new headteacher at the school, said she was excited to embed the school within the local community and create an environment where children feel safe and supported.
She said: "At my last school, we had a high percentage of children with SEND, which is where I developed a love for supporting children with additional needs.
"I believe all young people have a right to education, and for some pupils, mainstream provision can be challenging and not allow them the space to develop personally or academically.
"I’m most looking forward to building a shared ethos with our Redstone Hall community.
"I strive to build a family community for all our young people to feel safe, encouraging all children to reach their goals and it will be a privilege to welcome our first cohort.”
Loren Cahill, head of organic growth at Polaris, said: “We are so pleased to bring this nurturing school to the heart of Ipswich, not only protecting this amazing building’s appearance and heritage, but also providing a much-needed SEND provision to the area.
“We have worked closely with construction teams to ensure the building can be used for many years to come, while preserving its historical features and creating fantastic spaces for education.”
The school has been named after Lilian Jane Redstone, an Ipswich archivist and historian who received an MBE in 1919 for her work preserving records during the First World War.
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