Reach South appointed to run new Special School in Gloucestershire
The Regional Director for the South West has approved Reach South Academy Trust to run Gloucestershire’s new special school.
The new 200-place special school will support primary and secondary aged children from across the county with moderate and additional learning difficulties (MALD). It will be open in Gloucester in 2026, subject to planning permission.
Gloucestershire County Council, who will build the new school recommended Reach South Academy Trust with our experience in supporting children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across the South West. This will be our second special school in Gloucestershire.
Our CEO, Dean Ashton said, “ We are delighted to be selected as the Trust to run this exciting new Special School in Gloucestershire. We are committed to being a high quality, inclusive trust. Our schools cover the full range of provision for children and young people and we are committed to providing the very best for children and young people with special educational needs.
We believe in strong partnerships and work collectively with the full range of partners and very much look forward to working with Gloucestershire County Council, schools, parents and local community organisations to achieve the very best.”
Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member responsible for education at Gloucestershire County Council, said, “Our priority is to make sure all children in Gloucestershire can access the education that best meets their needs. That’s why we’re investing over £30 million into increasing the number of specialist school places throughout the county. We’re delighted that Reach South Academy Trust will be running the new special school, and we’re confident that they will help us achieve the best possible outcomes for these children and young people.”
We will be meeting with parents/carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities , members of the local community and some local schools at a ‘Meet the Trust’ events on Thursday 22 February at 11.00am and 4.30pm. The events will run for an hour at Christchurch Church, Heron Way, Abbeydale, Gloucester GL4 5EQ.
