Education and Learning Infrastructure Plan

Following the progress of the developments known as Brightwell Lakes and the North Felixstowe Garden neighbourhood, the Council has identified an increased need in primary school places and seeks to establish two new primary schools.

The Brightwell Lakes primary school is due to open as a new two form of entry (FE) 420 place, mainstream, 4 to 11 mixed primary school, with a 60-place EY setting on site.

The North Felixstowe primary school is due to open as a new one form of entry (FE) 210 place, mainstream, 4 to 11 mixed primary school, with a 30-place EY setting on site. Other primary schools may follow on the development when the level of demand requires.

The new schools will primarily serve the families on each new development respectively. It is planned, based on current forecasting, that the schools will open to Reception and key stage 1 aged children in September 2027.

The schools will be built to meet the forecast demand for places as a result of the new housing, however the PAN will be limited on opening and will increase in line with housing growth and increased pupil numbers. The new schools and pre-schools are currently in design, and will soon be submitted for planning permission, therefore the successful academy trust will not have the opportunity to influence the design of the new school.

The Council welcomes proposals from all potential academy trusts including for voluntary aided schools and academies with a faith designation.

The deadline to submit application forms is Monday 7 April 2025, by no later than midday.

Contact us

If you have any questions, contact the Schools Infrastructure Team.

Following the progress of the development known as Ipswich Garden Suburb (IGS), the Council has identified an increased need in primary school places and seeks to establish a new 2 form entry (FE) 420 place, mainstream, 4 to 11 mixed primary school, with a 60-place EY setting on site. Other primary schools may follow on the development when the level of demand requires.

The new school will be located on the development know as Henley Gate on the Ipswich Garden Suburb in Ipswich Suffolk. The school will primarily serve the families on that new development. It is planned, based on current forecasting, that the school will open to Reception and key stage 1 aged children in September 2026 (revised to open September 2027, see FAQ question 24).

The school will be built as a 2FE 420-place primary school, to meet the forecast demand for places as a result of the new housing, however the PAN will be limited on opening and will increase in line with housing growth and increased pupil numbers. The dedicated EY provision on the site will initially accommodate up to 30 children and will also have the capacity to grow to accommodate up to 60 children. The new school and pre-school are currently in design, and will soon be submitted for planning permission, therefore the successful academy trust will not have the opportunity to influence the design of the new school.

The Council welcomed proposals from all potential academy trusts including for voluntary aided schools and academies with a faith designation.

The deadline to submit application forms was Tuesday 07 May 2024, by no later than 10am. 

Contact us

If you have any questions, contact the Schools Infrastructure Team at schools@suffolk.gov.uk.

The local authority has been successful in our bid to the Department for Education to open a new special free school in Suffolk and are now seeking proposals from appropriate sponsors.

The new 80 place free school in Bury St Edmunds will provide places for young people aged 9 to 16 years with complex social, emotional and mental health needs.

The closing date for proposals has now passed.

• Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening (PDF, 414KB)
• Annex C: Model Criteria for Local Authorities and Proposers (PDF, 138KB)
• Final Specification (PDF, 288KB)
• Site Plan - Moreton Hall (PDF, 713KB)
• Revised Deadline for Applications (PDF, 120KB)
• Special School Financial Template (XLSX, 145KB)
• Application Form - Moreton Hall (DOC, 78KB)

An information event for providers interested in applying for either of the two new special schools was held on Thursday 12 March 2020. Download the information shared at the event (PDF, 483KB)

The information event was held for prospective providers interested in applying for either of the two new special schools:

• Communication and Interaction School in Bungay
• School for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs in Bury St Edmunds.

Update

We are still intending to go ahead with interviews for the new special schools in Suffolk in late April (27, 28 and 30). Clearly, circumstances now mean that interviews will need to be carried out using Skype rather then face to face. If your trust is invited to interview and finds itself unable to meet the interview date because of illness, we will ask you to let us know so that we can agree alternative arrangements. If you have any questions about this, please contact joy.stodart@suffolk.gov.uk

Contact us

If you have any questions, contact the Schools Infrastructure Team at schools@suffolk.gov.uk.

Deadline to submit application forms was Friday 3 April 2020

The local authority has been successful in our bid to the Department for Education to open a new primary free school in Suffolk and are now seeking proposals from appropriate sponsors.

The new 210 place primary free school in Stowmarket will provide places for young people aged 4 to 11 years. A 60 place pre-school will also be located on site and Sponsors will also be asked to consider offering places to 2 year olds.

• Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening (Stowmarket) (PDF, 211KB)
• Annex C: Model Criteria for Local Authorities and Proposers (Stowmarket) (PDF, 138KB)
• Final Specification (Stowmarket) (PDF, 293KB)
• Specification - Appendix 1: Stowmarket Pupils (PDF, 257KB)
• IDACI Map (Stowmarket) (JPG. 871KB)
• Financial Template (Stowmarket) (XLSX, 1373KB)
• Application form (Stowmarket) (DOC, 78KB)

These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

In the meantime, the Department for Education website outlines more about the process: Apply to open a special or alternative provision free school.

Contact us

If you have any questions, contact the Schools Infrastructure Team at schools@suffolk.gov.uk.

The deadline to submit application forms was Friday 7 August 2020.

The local authority has been successful in our bid to the Department for Education to open a new special free school in Suffolk and are now seeking proposals from appropriate sponsors.

The new 80 place free school in Bungay will provide places for young people aged 9 to 16 years with complex communication and interaction needs.

An information event for providers interested in applying for either of the two new special schools was held on Thursday 12 March 2020. Download the information shared at the event (PDF, 483KB)

The information event was held for prospective providers interested in applying for either of the two new special schools:

• Communication and Interaction School in Bungay
• School for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs in Bury St Edmunds

Update

We are still intending to go ahead with interviews for the new special schools in Suffolk in late April (27, 28 and 30). Clearly, circumstances now mean that interviews will need to be carried out using Skype rather then face to face. If your trust is invited to interview and finds itself unable to meet the interview date because of illness, we will ask you to let us know so that we can agree alternative arrangements. If you have any questions about this, please contact joy.stodart@suffolk.gov.uk

Contact us

If you have any questions, contact the Schools Infrastructure Team at schools@suffolk.gov.uk.

Deadline to submit application forms was Friday 3 April 2020

The local authority was seeking proposals from appropriate sponsors to open a new 210-place primary free school in Lakenheath, to open in September 2019.

The closing date for proposals has now passed.

• School Specification Document
• Application Form - Lakenheath
• Site Plan - Lakenheath
• Building Plan and Elevations - Ground Floor
• Building Plan and Elevations - First Floor
• Building Plan and Elevations - Pre-School
• Appendix A - Existing Provision in the Forest Heath Area
• Appendix B - Education Impact Assessment

For all enquiries, please contact schools@suffolk.gov.uk.

Deadline for receipt of proposals was Friday 4 May 2018 at midday.

The opening of the new free school in Lakenheath has been delayed from 2019 until a date yet to be agreed. This is due to a delay in determination of the housing planning applications, new school will serve the pupils arising from these developments.

The local authority was seeking proposals from appropriate sponsors to open a new 60-place SEMH/ASD free school in Ipswich.

The closing date for proposals has now passed.

• School Specification Document (PDF, 709KB)
• Site Location Plan (PDF, 448KB)
• Application and Criteria Guide (Word, 146KB)
• Special Free School Application - Part 1 (Excel, 118KB)
• Special Free School Application - Part 2 (Excel, 126KB)
• Special School Revenue Funding Guidance (PDF, 264KB)
• Special School Finance Template (Excel, 3.4MB)
• Special School Finance Template Guidance (PDF, 195KB)

For all enquiries, please contact schools@suffolk.gov.uk.

Under Section 6a of the Education & Inspections Act 2006 (the ‘free school presumption’) where a LA identifies the need to establish a new school they must, in the first instance, seek proposals to establish an academy. Suffolk County Council has identified the need to establish a new primary school in Red Lodge to open in September 2018.

The authority was seeking proposals from appropriate sponsors to open this new school. This school would be deemed a free school.

The closing date for proposals has now passed.

• New Primary School in Red Lodge - School Specification Document (PDF, 421KB)
• Appendix A - Sponsor Application Form
• Appendix B - Site Location Plan (PDF, 1MB)
• Appendix C - Existing educational provision in the Forest Heath area (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Appendix D - Detailed Site Plan (PDF, 2.6MB)
• Appendix E - Equality Impact Assessment (PDF, 338KB)
• Appendix F - DfE Free school presumption: Model criteria for local authorities and proposers seeking to establish new 'presumption' schools (PDF, 173KB)

The authority is also planning to provide a new school at Lakenheath which is also in the Forest Heath area. This may be of interest to potential sponsors of Red Lodge.

The Department for Education is inviting applications from proposer groups to open a new special free school in Suffolk. Applicant groups can access the key school specification information, along with the full ‘How to Apply’ guidance, using the following link: GOV.UK. You should read these documents carefully before completing mandatory pre-registration.

Suffolk Contextual Information - SEND Free School

Suffolk Specification - SEND Free School