Chalk Hill
Based in Great Cornard, Sudbury, Chalk Hill is for boys aged between eight and 14 who have experienced difficulty navigating mainstream education and are or have been at risk of permanent exclusion.
From September 2025, Chalk Hill is changing to become a special education school for young people with autistic spectrum disorder and co-occurring social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), working broadly at national curriculum levels.
We believe that with the right support for their educational and social, emotional and mental health needs, these children and young people can re-engage positively with learning and prepare for life as a successful learner, employee and citizen.
Most of our students have experienced difficulty or trauma in their childhood. We believe that no young person should be defined by their past, and with courage and commitment they can transform their future.
We provide a caring, supportive and challenging learning environment where our students overcome their barriers to learning, reintegrate successfully into their local mainstream schools or another appropriate education provider, and into the wider community.
Boarding places are offered to all students from Monday to Thursday during term-time only. This provides the opportunity to engage with a 24-hour curriculum.
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School Name – Chalk Hill Academy
Number of places and age range
Chalk Hill has 30 places 8-14The primary need that the school / provision caters for
☐ Communication and interaction -no
Cognition and Learning
☐ MLD – No
☐ SLD – NO
☐ PMLD – no
☐ Sensory and Physical – no
☐ Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) – YES
Do students need to have “average” cognition?
No at Chalk Hill we would expect young people to have lower than average cognition as part of theirAverage class size and staffing model
At Keystages two we aim to have class sizes of 6. There is a teacher and a member of support staff.At keystages three the maximum class size is 8, There is a teacher and a member of support staff.
Brief description of the curriculum offer.
At Chalk Hill we are mainly delivering the red curriculum pathway, we offer support on the green pathway and extend students on the yellow pathway. for more information on the pathways please see here.At Key stage two most of the lessons are class based.
At Key stage three, most students will move between teachers for different subjects. Students on the green pathway will have more lessons with their class teacher.
Specialist spaces at the school / provision
☐ Swimming pool – no unfortunately we do not have a swimming pool on site. we do access the a local leisure pool
☐ Sensory room (s), No
☐ other please give details. We are set in 3 acres of space and have good outside space.
The average number of places available each year
At Chalk Hill we usually expect to have about 5 places mainly from students leaving at year 9How can a school tour be booked.
For SENDAT schools the dates of tours and booking information is on this page.Other Information and links
Chalk Hill School SEND Information Report – Please click here
What we strive for
- A trauma-informed ethos and approach
- An accelerated, targeted Individual Learning Plan
- Intervention and support to address each child’s specific social, emotional and mental health needs
- Access to a broad and balanced school curriculum
- 24-hour support for boarders, Monday morning to Friday afternoon
- Close liaison and positive support work with parents and carers
- Collaboration with external agencies such as Social Services, Educational Psychologists, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Youth Offending and Suffolk County Council Children and Young People’s Services
- Supported transition to the next school or learning provider
Other useful information
