Gloucestershire Academy for Inspirational Learning (GAIL) Announced as Name for New Gloucester SEND School

Reach South Academy Trust is delighted to announce the name of its new school opening in Gloucester, Gloucestershire Academy for Inspirational Learning (GAIL). 

Set to open in January 2027, GAIL will provide 200 places for children aged 4–16 with moderate and additional learning difficulties (MALD), including autism, speech, language and communication needs and learning differences in cognitive profiles.

The new school will be located at Wheatridge East in Abbeydale in a purpose-built building designed specifically for SEND learners, featuring specialist facilities and a bespoke environment that supports inclusive, high-quality education. 

Reach South Trustees selected the name GAIL to reflect the school’s joyful and aspirational ethos. The name celebrates both inspiration and inclusion, values at the heart of the trust’s work. As part of the process to determine the name of the new school, the trust undertook an extensive consultation, engaging with over 300 stakeholders including the local authority, residents, building firms, and educational institutions. This wide-reaching consultation was designed to gather meaningful feedback and ensure the school’s identity reflects the views and values of the community it will serve.

The trust is now advertising for an exceptional headteacher to lead GAIL through its opening and development phase. This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead a new specialist school from its very beginning, creating an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children and young people with additional learning differences. 

The successful candidate will work within Reach South’s established model of inclusive practice, building trust with children and families and leading a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to ensuring that every pupil achieves aspirational outcomes. 

Full details of the role can be found in the applicant pack, available here. 

Tom Leverage, CEO of Reach South Academy Trust, said: 

“We wanted a name that went beyond geography and was something that reflected our purpose and passion. GAIL represents our belief that every child deserves to feel joyful, inspired, and supported to reach their full potential. 

We are now looking for a leader who can be both visionary and practical, someone who can design the curriculum, inspire staff, and embed the school’s values from day one. This is an opportunity to be part of something truly transformative for local families.”