Work Gets Underway On Our New Special School in Blyth

Work is underway on Gilbert Ward Academy in Blyth, our new special free school for Northumberland.

The state-of-the-art school will provide education for up to 80 students aged 11-16 with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) needs.

It is due to welcome its first pupils on site from January 2024 and is part of Northumberland County Council’s wider strategy to increase special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) support across the county.  

Chris Richardson, CEO of Prosper Learning Trust, said: “It’s very exciting to see work now getting underway and plans starting to take shape.

“Everybody at the Trust works very hard to ensure that we are providing the highest quality education for all our pupils. As our vision states ‘we help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds, understanding that learning is the key to that success’.

“As such we very much look forward to working with pupils in Northumberland and to providing the best possible educational experience for them, in a school where they can thrive and be happy.”

Construction firm, Bowmer + Kirkland (B+K), has been appointed as main contractors. B+K Project Manager, Ben Richardson, said: “We have been a framework contractor for the DfE since 2013 and have built 58 schools for them during that time. We are delighted to be building a further school in Blyth which will ensure that young people are given the best possible start in life by learning in modern, state of the art facilities.”

Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children’s Services, said: “This is fantastic news and I am delighted to see work now getting underway on what is going to a fantastic addition to Northumberland.

“The Gilbert Ward Academy will offer pupils the opportunity to learn, thrive and grow in an environment that’s tailored to meet their needs.

“It’s part of our investment in education across the county to make sure we meet the needs of all our children and young people as close to home as possible.”