Stretford Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Stretford Grammar School is a selective state school in the borough of Trafford
, England.
. The boys' school opened on 12 September 1928, being officially opened on 23 October 1928 by Eustace Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle
, and was situated on Great Stone Road west of Lancashire
's cricket ground. The girls' grammar school was called Stretford Girls' High School on Herbert Street which opened in 1923. In January 1941 the site of the girls' school was totally destroyed by bombing
. Nearby Trafford Park
produced important materials for the war, not least Rolls-Royce Merlin
engines made at Ford
's factory. A new girls' school was built on a different site near Longford Park and south of Edge Lane (A5145): the former site was turned into playing fields. The school was administered by the Stretford Divisional Executive of the Lancashire Education Committee. From April 1974, it was administered by Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.
In 1959 at the boys' school, 18-year old David Murray Jones of Urmston
, a goalkeeper in a seven-a-side football
match collapsed and died of a fractured skull
. There was a meningitis
outbreak at the former boys' school in December 1971.
Until its merger in 1986 with Stretford Grammar School for Boys, it had been known since 1960 as Stretford Grammar School for Girls (both schools change their name at the same time). The site of the boys' grammar school then became Stretford High School
, a community secondary school.
In 1988 there were plans to build a CTC
on the boys' school site, which were dropped. At the time of the merger, six secondary schools closed in Trafford, with the loss of 4,500 school places.
, consisted of a shield featuring a globe and books, with a fist clenching lightning, taken from the Stretford
coat of arms. The motto beneath read "Power through Knowledge". That crest was replaced by a maroon circle containing the school's initials, in lower case: when the school was awarded Science College
status in 2005, the logo was altered to include a symbolic atom above the initials.
in the UK to be placed under special measures
, following a damning Ofsted
report, which cited low level behaviour problems, inadequate teaching, and poor leadership and management.
The action came weeks after the then headmaster, Peter Cookson, resigned after a period of extended sick leave. The school had been assessed as "satisfactory" in its March 2006 Ofsted report, and left Special Measures Status in March 2010.
Trafford
The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 211,800, covers , and includes the towns of Altrincham, Partington, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston...
, England.
Admissions
The school has a sixth form in addition to years 7 to 11. Almost two-thirds of the school's pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds, and approximately 30% of all pupils have a first language other than English, significantly above the national average.History
The first head master was Albert Dakin. The first foundation stone of the school was laid on 1 July 1927. The building was to cost £40,745, and was built by Lancashire County CouncilLancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. It currently consists of 84 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, who won control of the council in the local council elections in June 2009, ending 28 years of...
. The boys' school opened on 12 September 1928, being officially opened on 23 October 1928 by Eustace Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle
Eustace Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle
Eustace Sutherland Campbell Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Newcastle PC , styled Lord Eustace Percy between 1899 and 1953, was a British diplomat, Conservative politician and public servant...
, and was situated on Great Stone Road west of Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
's cricket ground. The girls' grammar school was called Stretford Girls' High School on Herbert Street which opened in 1923. In January 1941 the site of the girls' school was totally destroyed by bombing
Manchester Blitz
The Manchester Blitz was the heavy bombing of the city of Manchester and its surrounding areas in North West England during the Second World War by the Nazi German Luftwaffe...
. Nearby Trafford Park
Trafford Park
Trafford Park is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located opposite Salford Quays, on the southern side of the Manchester Ship Canal, it is west-southwest of Manchester city centre, and north of Stretford. Until the late 19th century it was the...
produced important materials for the war, not least Rolls-Royce Merlin
Rolls-Royce Merlin
The Rolls-Royce Merlin is a British liquid-cooled, V-12, piston aero engine, of 27-litre capacity. Rolls-Royce Limited designed and built the engine which was initially known as the PV-12: the PV-12 became known as the Merlin following the company convention of naming its piston aero engines after...
engines made at Ford
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
's factory. A new girls' school was built on a different site near Longford Park and south of Edge Lane (A5145): the former site was turned into playing fields. The school was administered by the Stretford Divisional Executive of the Lancashire Education Committee. From April 1974, it was administered by Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.
In 1959 at the boys' school, 18-year old David Murray Jones of Urmston
Urmston
Urmston is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of around 41,000. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies about six miles to the southwest of Manchester city centre. The southern boundary is marked by the River Mersey and the...
, a goalkeeper in a seven-a-side football
Five-a-side football
thumb|240px|alt=Men playing football on artificial grass pitch.|Five-a-side game on astroturf pitch.Five-a-side football is a variation of association football in which each team fields five players , rather than the usual eleven on each team. Other differences from football include a smaller...
match collapsed and died of a fractured skull
Skull fracture
A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact...
. There was a meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
outbreak at the former boys' school in December 1971.
Until its merger in 1986 with Stretford Grammar School for Boys, it had been known since 1960 as Stretford Grammar School for Girls (both schools change their name at the same time). The site of the boys' grammar school then became Stretford High School
Stretford High School
Stretford High School is an 11-16 non-selective Secondary School in the borough of Trafford, Manchester. The school has working partnerships with both Manchester United and Lancashire County Cricket Club.- Admissions :...
, a community secondary school.
In 1988 there were plans to build a CTC
City Technology College
In England, a City Technology College is a state-funded all-ability secondary school that charges no fees but is independent of local authority control, being overseen directly by the Department for Education....
on the boys' school site, which were dropped. At the time of the merger, six secondary schools closed in Trafford, with the loss of 4,500 school places.
School crest
The school's crest is embroidered on blazers and jumpers. The original crest, designed by pupils in the late 1990s1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, consisted of a shield featuring a globe and books, with a fist clenching lightning, taken from the Stretford
Stretford
Stretford is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Lying on flat ground between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal, it is to the southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Salford and northeast of Altrincham...
coat of arms. The motto beneath read "Power through Knowledge". That crest was replaced by a maroon circle containing the school's initials, in lower case: when the school was awarded Science College
Science College
Science Colleges were introduced in 2002 as part of the now defunct Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enabled secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, science and mathematics...
status in 2005, the logo was altered to include a symbolic atom above the initials.
Academic performance
Academically the school exam results are above national averages, with 92% of pupils achieving A*–C in at least five GCSEs (including English and Mathematics). The school's value add score is below the local authority average. In March 2009, Stretford became the first grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
in the UK to be placed under special measures
Special measures
Special measures is a status applied by Ofsted and Estyn, the schools inspection agencies, to schools in England and Wales, respectively, when it considers that they fail to supply an acceptable level of education and appear to lack the leadership capacity necessary to secure improvements...
, following a damning Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report, which cited low level behaviour problems, inadequate teaching, and poor leadership and management.
The action came weeks after the then headmaster, Peter Cookson, resigned after a period of extended sick leave. The school had been assessed as "satisfactory" in its March 2006 Ofsted report, and left Special Measures Status in March 2010.
Notable former pupils
- Air Chief MarshalAir Chief MarshalAir chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Anthony BagnallAnthony BagnallAir Chief Marshal Sir Anthony John Crowther "Tony" Bagnall, GBE, KCB, FRAeS is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer and former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.- Flying career :...
GBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, KCBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, Station Commander of RAF LeucharsRAF LeucharsRAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
from 1987–90, AOCAir Officer CommandingAir Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
of No. 11 Group RAFNo. 11 Group RAFNo. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
from 1994–6, and Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-ChiefA commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of RAF Strike CommandRAF Strike CommandThe Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007: it was merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command. It latterly consisted of two formations - No. 1...
from 2000–1 - Alfred BatesAlfred BatesAlfred Bates is a British Labour Party politician.Bates was first elected to the House of Commons in the February 1974 general election, as Member of Parliament for Bebington and Ellesmere Port. He was re-elected at the October 1974 election, but lost his seat at the 1979 general election to the...
, Labour MP for Bebington and Ellesmere PortBebington and Ellesmere Port (UK Parliament constituency)Bebington and Ellesmere Port was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system...
from 1974–9 (later Trafford MBC councillor from 1992–2000) - Brenda Dean, Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-FyldeBrenda DeanBrenda Dean, Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde PC is a British trade unionist and politician.She began her career as a trade unionist as a teenager...
, trade unionist (left school at 16) - Eric Howe CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Data Protection Registrar (now part of the Information Commissioner's Office) from 1984–94, and Chairman from 1977–84 of the National Computer Users Forum - Tony LloydTony LloydAnthony Joseph 'Tony' Lloyd is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Manchester Central since 1997.-Early life:...
, Labour MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for StretfordStretford (UK Parliament constituency)Stretford was a parliamentary constituency in North West England, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
from 1983–97 and Manchester CentralManchester Central (UK Parliament constituency)Manchester Central is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. The constituency has always been a safe Labour seat...
from 1997, was a pupil from 1962–9. - Ernest Marples, Baron MarplesErnest MarplesAlfred Ernest Marples, Baron Marples PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Postmaster General and Minister of Transport. After his retirement from active politics in 1974 Marples was elevated to the peerage...
, UK Conservative Minister of Transport from 1959 to 1964, and MP for WallaseyWallasey (UK Parliament constituency)Wallasey is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
from 1945–64. Marples was responsible for introducing parking meters, yellow no-parking lines and motorways. - Ian McShaneIan McShaneIan David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
, actor - Debbie MooreDebbie MooreDebbie Moore OBE , is an English model and business woman who is most noted as the founder of Pineapple Dance Studios and its associated clothing brand...
OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, businesswoman - John Mulkern CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, JP, Managing Director and board member British Airports Authority 1977–1987, Chairman British Airports International 1978–82, President Western European Airports Association 1981–83 - Prof Gerald Smith, Professor of Russian from 1986–2003 at the University of OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
- George Sylvester CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Chief Education Officer of Bristol from 1942–67 - Prof John TomlinsonJohn Tomlinson (educationalist)Professor John Tomlinson was a leading British educationalist. He began his career as a teacher before becoming a local authority education officer and later professor of education at University of Warwick....
CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Professor of Education from 1985–97 at the University of WarwickUniversity of WarwickThe University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, Director of Education for CheshireCheshireCheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
from 1972–84, and Chairman of National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling (NICEC, and part of the Careers Research and Advisory Centre) from 1985–9 - Rear-AdmiralRear AdmiralRear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
John Trythall OBE CB - Anthony Tucker, Guardian science correspondent from 1964–88
- Sir Arnold WolfendaleArnold WolfendaleSir Arnold Whittaker Wolfendale FRS is a British astronomer who served as Astronomer Royal from 1991 to 1995.-Early life:...
, Astronomer RoyalAstronomer RoyalAstronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
from 1991–5 - Eric Crosbie, Conservative councillor for Davyhulme East and Mayor of Trafford from 1993-1994