The school was originally built as a hospital, but never opened as such, instead being partitioned to become two schools. It was opened on 28 April 1941 as Spalding The Gleed Senior Council School, and comprised boys' and girls departments which from 1946 were regarded as separate schools under the same management. From October 1946 to 1948 the two schools were known as Spalding Gleed Secondary Modern Schools. From October 1948 to at least 1974 they were again regarded as separate departments of the school, which was known as Spalding Gleed County Secondary School.