Heckmondwike Grammar School
History
The school was built by the Heckmondwike School Board after it was compelled by the Board of Education to replace various schools across Heckmondwike. The Board began the process in January 1894, and despite much controversy, the building of the school had finished by late 1897. Arthur Alfred Stott of Mirfield was the architect. The school opened on 17 January 1898, with an attendance of 907, with around 150–160 attending the School of Science. The School's Main Hall, now known as the Swann Hall, was named by the School Board after Dr K Swann, a former Chair of Governors.
Following the Education Act 1902 and the wider development of Secondary Education across the country, the Higher Grade School became the Secondary School, as the infant's section was moved into another building. It would be renamed Heckmondwike Grammar School in late 1929.
Further north in Cleckheaton was Whitcliffe Mount Grammar School, now Whitcliffe Mount School. The existence of Secondary Education across the Spen Valley was decisive as both Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton desired to have the major secondary school in their respective locality. Eventually, Whitcliffe Mount was created after the failure of the West Riding County Council to solve the Spen Valley Question.
HGS was a foundation school, but became an academy in September 2010.
On 18 January 2011, the Crellin Building was officially opened by Prince Edward, with Ingrid Roscoe and the mayor of Kirklees.
In December 2018, the headteacher at the time, Nathan Bulley, quit following allegations of mismanagement.
Admissions
HGS is a Technology College. The school has approximately 1,500 pupils aged between 11 and 18 and includes a sixth form.
Prospective pupils pass examinations in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, comprehension and mathematics before entry to the school. After testing, 180–210 pupils are accepted.
The HGS Annexe, which was formerly a church hall, which was previously used for physical education and social sciences was reopened in 2019 as the Jo Cox Sixth Form Centre, in memory of the late MP and former head girl of the School.
Curriculum and performance
Heckmondwike Grammar School follows the England, Wales and Northern Ireland National Curriculum.
In 2010 and 2013/2014 the school was ranked the 5th best-performing school in England for GCSE results. and is regularly among the top 100 state schools in the country.
In December 2022, Heckmondwike Grammar School was ranked the 2nd best school in the North of England, based on GCSE results.
Headmasters
- 1897–1924 — R. S. Cahill
- 1924–1948 — Harold Edwards
- 1948–1952 — E. G. Bennett
- 1952–1956 — E. J. S. Kyte
- 1956–1970 — Kenneth Ford, Quaker and Second World War conscientious objector who joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit
- 1970–1989 — T. C. Riddles
- 1989–1990 — J. K. Wilson (acting head)
- 1990–2010 — Mark Crellin Tweedle
- 2010–2016 — Mike Cook
- 2016–2018 — Nathan Bulley
- 2019–present — Peter Roberts
Notable alumni
- John Bentley – retired English rugby union and rugby league footballer
- Tracy Brabin – actress, television writer, Labour Party MP for Batley and Spen 2016–2021, Mayor of West Yorkshire (2021–present)
- Luke Burgess – former professional rugby league footballer; older brother of Sam
- Sam Burgess – South Sydney Rabbitohs coach and former rugby league player
- Roger Burnley (born 1966) – businessman, former CEO of Asda
- Jo Cox, late Labour MP for Batley and Spen 2015–2016
- John Fozard – late engineer, chief designer of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier from 1965 to 1978
- Emily Freeman – retired runner, 2008 Olympic relay team member, 2009 European Team Championships team member
- Andrew Gale – professional cricketer, former Yorkshire County Cricket Club captain (2016–2021)
- Sir Basil Houldsworth, 2nd Baronet – late Liberal politician and anaesthetist
- Sir Hubert Houldsworth, 1st Baronet – late barrister, National Coal Board chairman, and Liberal politician
- Kim Leadbeater – Labour politician and Batley and Spen MP (2021–present); younger sister of Jo Cox
- Michael McGowan – journalist, former Labour MEP for Leeds
- Frederick Campion Steward – late botanist and Cornell University professor
- Joe Seddon – entrepreneur, founder of Zero Gravity
References
- ^ "Senior Leadership". Heckmondwike Grammar School. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Heckmondwike Grammar School". Get information about schools. GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Magazines from the present and past produced by Heckmondwike Grammar School". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Heckmondwike Grammar School". BBC News. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
- ^ "Our History". Heckmondwike Grammar School. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ Sutcliffe, Robert (8 January 2019). "Head at top Grammar School quits after allegations of 'mass exodus of staff'". Examiner Live. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ "Pride and Emotion at Jo Cox Opening". Heckmondwike Grammar School. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "State grammar schools outperform independent sector". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ "Heckmondwike Grammar School". The Times. London. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
- ^ "Secondary league tables 2013: Best GCSE results". BBC News. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Grammar school head to leave after 11 years at Heckmondwike". The Press – The Intelligent Weekly. Batley. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Head quits after only two years at the top". The Press – The Intelligent Weekly. Batley. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ Perraudin, Frances (30 September 2016). "Tracy Brabin: 'I hope I can build on Jo Cox's legacy'". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ "Oldham sign a young Giant — and make quite a splash". Oldham RLFC. 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Sam Burgess ties the knot". The Press. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ Robinson, Andrew (31 October 2017). "Asda appoint lifelong Huddersfield Town fan to top position". Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ Davey, James (6 August 2021). "Asda chief Burnley exits ahead of schedule without new boss in place". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Jo Cox MP dead after shooting attack". BBC News. BBC. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ Farara, C. J. (1998). "John William Fozard, O. B. E.. 16 January 1928 – 17 July 1996". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 44: 193–204. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1998.0013.
- ^ Marshall, Bill (9 January 2009). "Freeman is champion attraction". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ Hopps, David (22 December 2009). "Andrew Gale relishes challenge of Yorkshire captaincy". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Hubert Houldsworth Plaque 22". Spen Valley Civic Society. n.d. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ Hyde, Nathan (17 June 2021). "All you need to know about Batley and Spen by election candidate Kim Leadbeater". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Byelections are bringing out the best – and the worst". The Guardian. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ Cocking, Edward C. (17 October 1993). "Obituary: Professor F. C. Steward". The Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ "Celebration for pass masters at two schools". The Press. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
