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Paradigm Trust set to run new Henley Gate school

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Oliver Rouane-Williams

Suffolk County Council has selected Paradigm Trust as its preferred academy trust to run the new primary school at Henley Gate in Ipswich.

The big picture: The school is part of the Ipswich Garden Suburb development, which, if all planning applications are approved, will see around 3,500 new homes built across three developments.

Henley Gate is the first phase of this significant housing project, with Fonnereau and Red House making up the remaining two.

A photo of the Henley Gate housing development in Ipswich
Henley Gate is the first of three neighbourhoods in the Ipswich Garden SuburbOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

Key details:

  • The school is set to open in September 2027

  • It will initially take 210 students from the 1,100-strong housing development

  • Eventually, it will be a two-form entry school, offering up to 60 places in each year group (420 total)

  • The school will also provide early years provision for up to 60 children

  • Initially, it will offer places in reception, year one and year two, expanding annually

Why it matters: The new school will help Suffolk County Council meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children in the area, supporting the growing community in north Ipswich.

Between the lines: Paradigm Trust was chosen following a rigorous selection process:

  • 11 academy trusts applied to run the school

  • Three were shortlisted for interviews

  • The interview panel included local councillors, education officers, and Department for Education representatives

The council cited Paradigm Trust's strengths in several areas, including:

  • Experience in opening a new school

  • A clear vision for engaging with the local community

  • Support-first approach to improving attendance

  • Positive support and interventions for vulnerable learners and children with special educational needs and disabilities

What's next: The council's cabinet will discuss the recommendation on 10 September 2024 before formally proposing Paradigm Trust to the Secretary of State for Education.

The bottom line: The new school aims to provide high-quality education for children in the growing Henley Gate development, supporting the area's growth and meeting the community's educational needs.

Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams
Mentioned in this article:
Paradigm Trust
Suffolk County Council
Posted in:
Primary Education
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Young climate advocates join Suffolk teachers to shape greener education

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Oliver Rouane-Williams

Last week's sustainability conference brought together educators and youth activists to reimagine how Suffolk schools can prepare students for a changing world.

Why it matters: This comes as the deadline looms for all schools to have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan, as set out in the Department for Education's 2022 Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy.

Around 30 schools from across Suffolk met at St Joseph's College in Ipswich on 2 April to explore the vital role of sustainability in education.

Joe Billington, Department for Education
Joe Billington, Department for EducationSuffolk County Council

The big picture: The Suffolk Sustainability in Education conference is the first of three events in the East of England supporting schools to deliver on the objectives set out in the DfE's strategy.

The event also aligns with Students Organising for Sustainability UK's (SOS-UK) Green Schools Revolution programme, which helps schools implement aspects of the DfE's strategy.

Who was there: A diverse lineup of speakers contributed, including:

  • Joe Billington from the Department for Education

  • Young climate advocate Talia Hardie from SOS-UK

What they did: The interactive day focused on embedding climate education into school strategy and culture, with workshops covering:

  • Carbon Awareness Training

  • Greening the Curriculum and Nature Connectedness

  • Facilitated Climate Action Planning

What they're saying: "This is a pivotal year for sustainability in education, with the deadline looming for all schools to have completed a Climate Action Plan and early indications from the Government's Curriculum and Assessment Review that the new curriculum will rightly place a much greater emphasis on tackling the climate crisis," said Hannah Fitzpatrick, Senior Project Manager at SOS-UK.

Talia Hardie, SOS-UK
Talia Hardie, SOS-UKSuffolk County Council

Councillor Gerald Kelly, Chair of the Suffolk Councils' Environment Portfolio Holders' Group, said: "We know that developing climate action plans is a new and complex challenge for most schools, so Suffolk's public sector leaders wanted support them through the process."

For context: The event was delivered in partnership with the Department for Education, Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network, UK Schools Sustainability Network, Heart Academies Trust, St Joseph's College, The Science Hub, and The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College.

The bottom line: The conference represents one way that Suffolk's local authorities are delivering the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan, promoting collaborative climate action in schools to reach Suffolk's ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2030.

Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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