Academy Projects
Gloucestershire Academy for Inspirational Learning (GAIL) New Special School off The Wheatridge East, Abbeydale, Gloucester
Reach South Academy Trust is pleased to confirm that it has been approved by Gloucestershire County Council and the Department for Education (DfE) as the sponsor for a brand-new special school. The new ‘all through’ school will be built on Wheatridge East in Abbeydale is due to open in January 2027. It is designed to accommodate 200 children aged 4 to 16, when full.
The school will cater for children and young people with Moderate and Additional Learning Difficulties, meaning it will skilfully meet a range of needs, including autism and speech, language and communication needs alongside learning difficulties. It is being built by EG Carter & Co Ltd, who began construction in June to deliver this much needed provision in Gloucestershire. Places will be allocated by Gloucestershire County Council.
Tom Leverage, CEO of Reach South Academy Trust, said:
“We are incredibly proud to have been chosen to run this much-needed special school in Abbeydale. At Reach South, our vision is simple: every child, whatever their needs, deserves access to an excellent education close to home.
We’re excited to begin working closely with families, professionals and Gloucestershire County Council to create a safe, ambitious and truly inclusive school of which the whole community can be proud."
GAIL
We’re thrilled to share the official name of our brand-new special school:Gloucestershire Academy for Inspirational Learning (GAIL).
After thoughtful discussion and valuable input from our community, our Trustees selected a name that truly reflects our values, our vision, and the joyful learning environment we are committed to creating.
Why GAIL?
Inspirational naming: Only two schools in the UK currently include the word “Inspirational” in their title — and both are part of the Reach South family. GAIL proudly continues this tradition.
Rooted in history: The name “Gail” carries a joyful heritage. It is linked to the Hebrew name Abigail, meaning “my father’s rejoicing” or “one who brings joy”, and Old English origins meaning “joyful”.
Connected to our success: GAIL builds on the proven model of SAIL (Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learning), expanding our network and strengthening our shared commitment to high-quality, joyful, inclusive education.
We believe GAIL perfectly represents who we are: a place of inspiration, joy, ambition and opportunity, where every learner is supported to thrive.
Groundbreaking Event
On Tuesday 22nd July, we proudly joined Gloucestershire County Council, E G Carter & Co Ltd, and local community representatives to mark the ground-breaking of the new school. Please see some photos below from the event.
Steel Signing
On Tuesday 9th September, representatives from Reach South Academy Trust joined Gloucestershire County Council, E G Carter & Co Ltd, and members of the local community for a special steel signing ceremony. This event marked a significant milestone in the development of the new school, celebrating the completion of the steel framework and the collaborative efforts driving the project forward.
Our CEO, Tom Leverage, proudly signed the steel structure, commemorating the occasion and symbolising the next phase of construction. The ceremony provided a meaningful moment to reflect on the transformative impact the New Special School will have on children and families across Gloucestershire. Please see some photos below from the event.
Site Progress February 2026
Check out our drone footage showing the progress of GAIL.
Seeing the structures take shape, from the primary and secondary buildings to the emerging amphitheatre and learning spaces, is incredibly exciting. Every stage brings us closer to opening a purpose‑built, inclusive environment designed so that every pupil can learn, grow and thrive.
A huge thank you to E G Carter for their continued collaboration and commitment. We look forward to sharing more milestones as GAIL continues to take shape.
Section 10 Consultation
Academies are state-funded schools. They are independent from Local Authorities but are accountable to the Government, which provides free education in the community. Funding to run the academy is on the same basis as other schools and comes directly from the Government. For a new academy to open, Reach South Academy Trust must enter into a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State for Education. As part of this process, we must hold a consultation under Section 10 of the Academies Act 2010.
Our consultation took place between Monday 9 June 2025 and concluded on Friday 25 July 2025. Thank you to everyone who took part in our Section 10 statutory consultation regarding the proposal for the Trust to enter into a funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education to run the new special school in Gloucestershire.
We are grateful for the thoughtful and constructive feedback received. There was overwhelming support for the school’s vision, curriculum, and for the Trust to lead the new school. We are pleased to confirm that the statutory consultation period is now closed, and we appreciate the valuable contributions from all stakeholders.
