First Base Ipswich Academy, Ipswich
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
First Base Ipswich Academy excels at building strong relationships with pupils and families, creating a calm and inclusive environment where children feel genuinely safe and supported. The school is particularly skilled at helping pupils with complex needs develop confidence, emotional regulation and positive attitudes to learning. Most importantly, the school has a proven track record of successfully helping pupils reintegrate back into mainstream schools with improved resilience and engagement.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional relationships between staff and pupils - warm, respectful and consistent support that helps pupils feel safe and valued
- Highly effective attendance and behaviour support with strategic oversight and close work with families
- Ambitious inclusion approach that removes barriers to learning for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Strong pastoral care and emotional wellbeing support tailored to individual needs
- Effective professional development ensures staff understand and respond to pupils' diverse needs
Areas for Improvement
- Newer curriculum pathway still developing - not fully consistent across all pupils due to recent staffing instability
- Pupils not consistently supported to sustain and apply learning throughout the school day and across wider opportunities
- Trustees lack precise understanding of timeframes and success criteria for evaluating the new curriculum
- Limited monitoring of impact for some pupils in newer provision, particularly regarding contribution to wider community
- Dual commissioning arrangements with local authority and partner schools don't always ensure clear accountability
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, helping pupils feel safe and secure.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips, school visitors, community initiatives including 'SEND through the eyes of the child'
First Base Ipswich Academy is a specialist school that provides highly effective support for pupils with complex needs, including those with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school creates a calm, nurturing environment where pupils rebuild confidence and successfully reintegrate into mainstream education.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
0%
Available places
0 pupils
12 capacity
12 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Ipswich
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ipswich
Admissions Demand - Suffolk
Places available
8,896
Applications
6,486
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
99.4%
Primary admissions across Suffolk (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.