King Edward VI Academy (formerly King Edward VI Humanities College), is a coeducational bi-lateral secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England, for children between the ages of eleven and eighteen. The bi-lateral status is not common, with less than five such schools remaining in England and Wales, but effectively means that any local children who pass the Lincolnshire 11-plus examination and select King Edward VI Humanities College will receive a grammar school education, but the school also accepts children who have not passed the 11-plus and they will instead receive a separate comprehensive education but under the same roof and from the same teaching staffs and management team. Subject to a child's individual performance, during their time at the school, re-streaming between the bi-lateral poles is possible although rare and offers a borderline or later developing child a chance of achieving a grammar school education. The school is an amalgamation of two separate institutions, the King Edward VI Grammar School opened in 1550 and the Sir John Franklin Secondary Modern School, which opened in 1954. These schools were combined in 1991 as Spilsby High School, initially retaining both sites. The school has provided sixth form education for the over 16s since September 2008, with provision of study for a BTec National Diploma Studies in Business Studies. History Founding of the grammar school In common with many grammar schools in England and Wales, Spilsby's was founded in 1550 under Royal Charter of King Edward VI and bore his name. The building of the new school was funded by the local Lords of the Manor of Eresby, the Willoughby family, who also endowed the school with a fund that continues to the present day. In the terms of the original grant of November 1550, Katherine, Duchess of Suffolk and Charles Brandon and their heirs were to have the right to nominate and appoint the schoolmaster. Initially the school had no school building and lessons took place in the chapel at Willoughby's Eresby Manor estate. In 1611 the family donated a plot of land and the agricultural buildings were converted into a small school. In 1839 a new school was built on its current site, again with funds provided by the Lord of the Manor. Between 1741 and 1842 the school population consisted of around forty two children, 30 boys and 12 girls. In 1839 the number