Johnson, and within part of Spalding Parish Church, called St Thomas's Chapel, until the 19th century.

The School opened in 1562 with ten pupils and continued to educate boys from the district until it amalgamated with Spalding.

Anne, Princess Royal visited on the morning of Thursday 19 May 1988, and attended a service in the parish church, conducted by the Bishop of Lincoln, Bob Hardy, for the school's 400th anniversary; the school received its royal charter on 18 May 1588.

[8] Spalding Grammar School admits pupils aged 11 to 18 from the council district of South Holland - an area of 500 square miles (1,300 km2) - some pupils travelling over 20 miles (32 km) to reach the school.

In January 2006 new buildings were opened for ICT, sociology, technology, English and drama (with a performing arts studio).

[citation needed] In 2006, the school was granted Specialist Status as a Languages and Engineering College.