MP for Ipswich and Minister for Health Ben Gummer has visited Stone Lodge Academy in Ipswich, part of Acorn Care and Education’s Academy sponsorship network.
Ben Gummer MP’s visit to Stone Lodge saw him receive a tour of the school and meet with staff and pupils. Stone Lodge Academy, previously Beacon Hill Special School, was previously managed by Suffolk County Council and was converted to Academy status in October 2013. Acorn began sponsoring Stone Lodge in February 2015.
Mr Gummer said: “It was a pleasure to see the wonderful work being done by staff at Stone Lodge Academy. I was grateful for the opportunity to hear about the school’s future plans and I shall endeavour to support the school as it works to implement these to bring about positive outcomes for its pupils”.
Stone Lodge Academy caters for 5 – 16 year olds, offering day education for 160 pupils with moderate learning disabilities. It is a Single-Academy Trust and is the first of Acorn’s Academies in the Suffolk area.
Natalie-Jane Macdonald, chief executive of Acorn Care and Education, said: “Ben Gummer MP’s visit to Stone Lodge Academy is testimony to the hard work of the full team there and we were pleased that he was able to come along and meet the children for himself to learn more about the school.”
“Our aim is for Stone Lodge to achieve Ofsted Outstanding, while ensuring that the educational and care needs of the most vulnerable young people are being met. We want to equip children
appropriately so that they can have experience better outcomes in both education and in life. Our Academy sponsorship programme in Ipswich gives us an excellent opportunity to work alongside a former maintained special school and to share our experience and learnings.”