Welcome to Northstowe Martin Bacon Academy, part of the wider Northstowe Learning Community and Meridian Trust.

The Martin Bacon Academy is a brand new, state of the art, Area Special School, built in the heart of the Northstowe Learning Community. We cater for children and young people aged 3 to 19 who have a range of complex and significant learning needs in the area of cognition and learning (with other co-occurring conditions). This covers a wide range of needs including learners with autistic spectrum condition and those with complex physical and sensory impairments. All pupils will be provided with an exciting, balanced education which will be appropriately paced and designed to meet their individual education needs.

As a new school this is an exciting time for us. We have embarked on a journey, opening a brand new Specialist Provision and forging links with our new community. This journey will provide opportunities to build on the strengths and experiences of our community in collaboration with other schools in the trust but especially the Northstowe Secondary College with whom we share a school site.

Mary Abeyasekera, Executive Principal joined Meridian Trust in September 2017 following her role as an HMI and one of Ofsted’s National Leads for SEND. During her time with Ofsted, she introduced the Local Area SEND inspections. Mary has substantial leadership and management experience in all-through special schools and mainstream secondary schools. As well as being an Advanced Skills Teacher, Mary has held senior leadership and consultancy posts in schools in the East of England. Most notably Mary lead The Harbour school from causing the local Authority serious concern to outstanding in 2013, and supported Nenegate Special School to Ofsted Good as Consultant Headteacher.

Sarah Louise, Head of school trained in 1997 and brings with her 23 years of experience in SEN.  Sarah joined Meridian Trust in January 2020 following her roles both in the UK and Uganda in SEN. During her time in the UK she held leadership positions in area special schools and specialist ASC provisions. Her knowledge and skills in ASC led her to set up county provision in Cambridgeshire.

Her leadership and management experience lead her to Uganda to set up SEN provisions and residential units before running an international school.  Sarah brings a wealth of SEND knowledge to the trust. Her passions for SEND means that she also attends a number of Specialist groups outside of the working day.