Significant expansion work now underway at Chantry Academy following ground-break event

Staff and students at Chantry Academy put on their site gear and PPE and picked up a spade to help signal the start of work on a major extension to their school in Ipswich. The project at the academy, which is part of The Active Learning Trust, is being carried out to meet growing demand for secondary places in the local area.

On behalf of Suffolk County Council and Concertus Design and Property Consultants, Morgan Sindall is carrying out all construction work. Phase one of the project includes building a brand-new single storey special educational needs and disability (SEND) block. Phase two includes the creation of a two-storey block, compromising of 11 classrooms and a library.
Works has now started at the site on Mallard Way and is expected to be complete by the end of June 2022.

Craig D’Cunha, Executive Principal at Chantry Academy, said: “We are delighted that the building work to extend our school has started. The design and facilities are fantastic and will provide significant benefits to our current and future students along with the wider Ipswich community. At Chantry Academy we want every child to be successful and believe there should be no barriers when it comes to learning. The new expansion work will undoubtedly help achieve this, and ensure our students can become active, confident, and responsible citizens within society.”

The project is set to expand the school from 900 places to 1,050 places and provide an additional 18 places in the SEND unit.

Charles Coulson, Associate Director at Concertus, said: “We are pleased to be working with Morgan Sindall for Suffolk County Council on the expansion and the new SEND unit at Chantry Academy. The expansion along with the specialist teaching block will provide high quality learning environment for the children. We look forward to seeing the project progress”.

Commenting on Phase one of the project, Rachel Hood, Cabinet Member for Education, SEND and Skills at Suffolk County Council, said: “It is wonderful to see the progress being made at the new SEND unit. It will make such a different to young people at the school. I am committed to increasing the number of SEND placements in Suffolk and ensuring that we provide the very best education for all of our children and young people.”

The new expansion work supports The Active Learning Trust’s ongoing commitment to education in Ipswich. Earlier in the year, the Trust was granted planning permission for a 2-Form Entry (420-place) Primary School and (26-place) Nursery, at Carr Street, Ipswich.
The proposals were jointly consulted on behalf of The Active Learning Trust, the Department for Education, and Morgan Sindall Construction. The new school, designed by Concertus is due to be open in September 2023.

To find out more about Chantry Academy, visit: www.chantryacademy.org
Learn about The Active Learning Trust, visit: www.activelearningtrust.org
Media contact: Tom Evans; [email protected]