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Major rebuild of Ormiston Sudbury Academy could be ready as early as September 2025




A major redevelopment of Sudbury’s secondary school could be completed as soon as 2025, as ambitions for the long-awaited project were revealed this week.

The first details on plans for a new school building at Ormiston Sudbury Academy are expected in the coming months, after government funding was secured last year.

The Tudor Road-based school was named in the third round of funding of the Department for Education (DfE) School Rebuilding Programme in July.

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge visits Ormiston Sudbury Academy. Contributed picture.
South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge visits Ormiston Sudbury Academy. Contributed picture.

DfE officials have now confirmed key targets for the time-frame of delivering the scheme, with a significant rebuild anticipated due to the condition of the existing school premises.

A feasibility study with further details on the design and build is set to be published this summer, ahead of the submission of a formal planning application, which could arrive by Christmas.

Subject to receiving the relevant planning permissions, building work could then begin in the spring or early summer of 2024.

It is hoped that the new facilities may be completed and ready to use by September the following year, in time for the start of the 2025/26 academic year.

A spokeswoman for Ormiston Academies Trust, which runs the school, said: “We are really pleased to be receiving this investment, which will have a very positive impact on the provision we are able to offer.

“Our priority continues to be giving our students the best possible education and the opportunities to succeed, and we are excited about how this new building will greatly enhance student experience at our academy.

“As plans develop, we will continue to keep our community updated.”

Ormiston Sudbury Academy has indicated its desire to revamp its facilities for several years, and temporarily mothballed its sixth-form provision from 2021, as it sought investment into its infrastructure and resources.

It is understood that plans for the new building will aim to meet the highest eco-standards, in order to cut running costs and help address climate change.

South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge welcomed the confirmation that the new school build could be ready by September 2025, following recent discussions with DfE officials.

“From personal experience as a parent, I am aware of how school rebuilds boost academic standards,” said Mr Cartlidge [pictured below].

“Likewise, in my various visits to Ormiston Sudbury Academy, the need for a new building has been a constant theme of discussion with the principal and senior figures in the academy trust.

“I have, therefore, made it a political priority to push for a rebuild at Ormiston Sudbury Academy, and I was delighted when it was selected as a candidate school for funding in July 2022, but at that stage had little detail.

“While any progress is inevitably subject to planning, the crucial news is that a significant rebuild is the most likely outcome, and that it could be ready by 2025 – though, inevitably, timing is indicative at this stage.

“It should be stressed that this would be a major multi-million pound public investment in Sudbury.

“While much will depend on the precise recommendations of the feasibility study, this is a great opportunity to deliver long-lasting improvement to this important local school.

“I will continue to work with the trust and the Department for Education to push for the best possible outcome – a significant rebuild, offering the greatest positive impact for pupils.”



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