Schools merger to flower in 2022 as Tulip Academy Spalding

The merger of two special schools is to take place next year with the creation of Tulip Academy Spalding.

The Priory and The Garth Schools will respectively become the Waterside and Springview campuses of the new school now intended for all ages and all abilities.

It was first proposed in 2017 as part of what Lincolnshire County Council called at the time an end to ‘disability segregation’ and provide more spaces across the county.

Ahead of the merger, a new wing at the Garth with five new classrooms has recently been completed while a new nine classroom block is due to be completed in Autumn 2022 at the same time as the Tulip Academy is officially launched.

The head of The Priory Matthew Bloodworth-Flatt has been named as the interim executive headteacher with Garth head Claire Moore named as senior deputy headteacher and Will Scott deputy headteacher.

Mr Bloodworth-Flatt said: “From September 2022 the newly amalgamated school will be known as Tulip Academy Spalding.

“As the school will be based across two sites, each campus will have its own name and identity.

“I feel the new names really encompass many aspects of the local area and elements which are historic and pertinent to the town of Spalding.

“I also very much like the description provided from the stakeholder who suggested the name Tulip Academy. They said: ‘A tulip grows at its own pace, in its own time, but all are beautiful.’

“This description really resonates with the pupil-led philosophy and approach we have within both schools.

“We appreciate that each and every one of our learners is an individual and we work to ensure we support each child in a way most suited to them allowing them to achieve their true potential.”