Suffolk County Council considers new unit for SEND children at Bury St Edmunds school
Ofsted found SEND children at the school weren't being “supported as well as they should be”
Last updated 13th Sep 2023
Suffolk County Council has received a planning application for a new school unit aimed at children with special needs in Bury St Edmunds.
The unit would be part of Sybil Andrews Academy, on Rougham Tower Avenue, and would welcome between 18 and 24 pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The application says the project is necessary “to ensure that children in Suffolk are educated in an environment that supports them to fulfil their potential”.
It follows an Ofsted report resulting in a rating of “requires improvement” due, among other criticisms, to SEND children not being “supported as well as they should be” — the proposals aim to provide just that.
Georgina Ellis, executive director for SEND at Unity Schools Partnership, of which the academy is a member, said the plans are modelled on the success of a similar project running at Castle Manor Academy in Haverhill.
She added: “The unit will offer pathways which will enable students to access an appropriate curriculum.
“There will be close liaison with the main school and an opportunity for students to integrate, where this is appropriate.”
The plans also follow a change of leadership in April which saw Kevin Blakey take on the mantle of executive headteacher.
Mr Blakey was chosen for the role after his success in leading Lowestoft’s East Point Academy from special measures to an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ rating in 19 months.
When he took on the position, Mr Blakey said: “We will do all we can to ensure students are successful – through academic grades, developing and understanding themselves and how they can help society and their progression to the next stage of their education.”