End of an era as Blythe closes
The curtain will come down on three generations of history this Friday when Blythe School in Coleshill officially closes.
The special school in Packington Lane has been open for 39 years but will hold its final lessons this week.
Next week it will re-open – on the same site – as Woodlands School, formed by a merger of Sparrowdale School in Grendon with Blythe School.
The school will continue to operate on the two existing sites while building work at Coleshill is carried out. In 2007, when the building is finished, all the children and staff will be together at Woodlands School.
A day of celebration, looking back at Blythe’s past is being held on Friday, with parents and guests being invited to join the pupils in the classrooms.
After looking around the school in the morning they will enjoy a concert put on by the children.
The official opening of Blythe was held on 1 December 1966. Known as ‘The Blythe Junior Training Centre’ it was the fifth centre for children with learning difficulties built in Warwickshire since the 1959 Mental Health Act. It cost £76,500 to build. All the schools were built to the same design after the first one, in Warwick, was opened. Aimed at children between aged five and 16, the centre could cater for 50 children and could accommodate 12 youngsters for overnight or short stays to allow respite care. Residential provision ended in 1976.
Diana Milledge, chair of governors, said: “Special needs education has moved on a lot since the 1960’s. Our understanding has grown and with it, so has Blythe. It will be sad to say farewell to the school’s name but the spirit will thrive as we move to buildings suitable for 21st century provision.”