Academy opens specialist learning hub for pupils

Joe Pointon, head of school, about to cut the ribbon to open The Abbey alongside representatives from Sybil Andrews Academy, Suffolk County Council, Unity Schools Partnership, Concertus and Barnes Construction

A new “wonderful learning environment” for special needs pupils has opened at a school in Suffolk, after Ofsted previously criticised its SEND provision.

The Abbey, a specialist unit for students with special educational needs and disabilities, is based at Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds.

In the "hub", there are two new classrooms, specialist group rooms, and outdoor learning spaces, which will support both Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils.

Pupils across all age groups will be taught a mixture of core lessons and life skills such as banking, catering and road safety.

The new SEND hub will be used to teach pupils core lessons and life skills such as banking, catering and road safety

Joe Pointon, head of school, said he was delighted to see students already enjoying the new building and its “bright and airy classrooms”.

He added: “The Abbey is a wonderful learning environment, and pupils will follow a broad curriculum that will prepare them for their adult lives beyond school.

“Some pupils will do all of their lessons exclusively in The Abbey, but some pupils will come to the main school for certain subjects when appropriate.”

The building comes after Ofsted inspectors rated the school "requires improvement" back in 2019 due, among other criticisms, to SEND children not being “supported as well as they should be”.

Last year, however, the school was given a new rating of Good.

Work on the new building then started after Suffolk County Council pledged to invest £55 million in SEND provision across the county.

One councillor involved in that mission was Andrew Reid, cabinet member for education and SEND, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the site.

He said: “I am pleased to see the difference that Suffolk County Council’s SEND capital investment is having in creating additional specialist places in the county.

“It’s wonderful that pupils will start the school year in a brand-new building.”

The design of the hub also includes outdoor spaces with canopies designed to help elevate the learning environment for the children by encouraging outdoor learning.

The Abbey was built after Suffolk County Council pledged to invest £55 million in SEND provision across the county

Charles Coulson, associate director at building design firm Concertus, said: "We are extremely proud to have played a key role in creating The Abbey.

“We are dedicated to supporting the council in creating peaceful and inspiring environments that enable students to develop independence and self-confidence.”

Damien Kerry is the associate divisional director at Barnes Construction, which has helped to develop the academy in various ways since 2015.

He added: “The completion of this project is another significant milestone in the development of the overall campus.

“It has been fantastic to once again work with Suffolk County Council and Concertus to produce another quality facility for the local area.

“The new building and external areas look amazing and are a real credit to all those involved.”