Stoke High School – Ormiston Academy is gearing up for a year of festivities as it proudly looks back on 125 years of education.
Students and staff from the academy, have planned a number of events and projects to celebrate the significant milestone.
This is such an exciting year for Stoke High and we are so proud to look back on all the amazing achievements over the past 125 years.
Karen Baldwin, Principal
To honour the academy’s rich history, artist Lydia Bevan has been commissioned to create a unique piece of art – a hand-drawn map which highlights the academy’s close historical and geographical connections to the local area, encouraging students to engage with the town’s fascinating past.
The artwork features significant and well-known local landmarks, including the original location of the historic Tower Ramparts School before it was replaced by Stoke High School, the Stoke Mammoth, the corn exchange, and beloved churches.
In addition to the wall art, the academy has also planned to create a commemorative book, filled with personal anecdotes, photographs, and stories from current and former students, which will be open to contributions from alumni and local residents who have fond memories from their time at the academy.
Students will also be able to explore the academy’s heritage through working with the extensive Suffolk Archives, learning more about their community’s past through hands-on experiences, guest speakers and historical visits.
With the academic year just getting started, the academy is also planning to host a grand event to celebrate the 125th anniversary which will look back on the incredible history and impact of Stoke High, and forward to the next generation of learners through the burying of a time capsule.
Karen Baldwin, Principal said: “This is such an exciting year for Stoke High and we are so proud to look back on all the amazing achievements over the past 125 years – with many more to come. We are delighted to kick of celebrations with an excellent piece of artwork which encourages our students to appreciate the history of both the academy and the local area, and also creates an opportunity to consider how Stoke High has evolved as a central part of the community.
“We are all incredibly excited for this coming year of commemorating and we look forward to welcoming the whole academy community to join in on the special occasion and share in celebrating Ipswich’s vibrant history.”