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Suffolk County Council has a responsibility to ensure that all children in Suffolk have access to a good school that can make the best of their talents.
We:
There is an open competition for our new Schools North Felixstowe Primary School and Brightwell Lakes Primary School which are due to open 2027/28.
The competition will run from Friday 10 January 2025 to Monday 7 April 2025. Details of the competition are published in the 'open competition' section below.
Parents and carers have asked for some help when schools consult them on proposals to become an academy.
We suggest that parents look at the Department of Education guidance for schools converting to an academy
A free school is set up by an organisation or group of individuals that are not controlled by the local authority and is funded by the government.
GOV.UK provides information and guidance about the establishment of free schools.
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.
Appendix E will be added soon.
Please note you only need to complete one application form (appendix A) for the competition. You can apply to run one or both schools on the same form.
For details on closed competitions where Suffolk County Council were seeking a sponsor for a new school, please visit Education and Learning Infrastructure Plan for more information.