Greeeeenhead / Kly girls grammur

[anorak]

I have just been asked when Greenhead School was born. When did the old girls' grammar cease to exist and the compehensive start up?

I should know, but Jan et al will have a definitive answer no doubt

[Admin]

Rob

Have cut and pasted a few relevant portions...the full article is on the website for all to read....................

In January 1872, the Girls School opened, the first school of its kind to be opened in England under the Endowed Schools Act. To gain entry to the school, pupils were to be "girls of good character, and sufficient bodily health, residing with their parents, guardians or next friends". Admission was by examination to test “their ability to read monosyllabic narrative, write large text hand and to work easy sums in simple addition". The school was to be examined annually, the inspector's fee to be paid by the Governors.
The school was housed in buildings formerly occupied by the boys and extensions were added in 1882 at a cost of £896 and in 1887 at a cost of £952 By 1907, numbers had increased to 288 and further accommodation in wooden buildings was added.
In November 1871, Miss Mary Eliza Porter was selected to be the first headmistress of the new school. She was considered by her contemporaries to be one of the pioneers in the field of secondary education for girls, and a specialist in opening and organizing schools. There were to be four weeks holiday at midsummer.................................................................................................................................................................................................................
By 1963, there was evidence that the Thorne Scheme was not working and a new financial crisis was forcing the West Riding to put limits on new school buildings. The idea was then proposed to adapt the Leicestershire Plan, where schools were divided into Junior High and Senior High Schools, students choosing at 14 whether to stay in the Junior High and leave at 15, or transfer to the Senior High School if they wished to stay at school until 16 or beyond. The Senior High Schools were to be based on the existing Boys' and Girls' Grammar Schools, but extensive new buildings would be required.
When both schools became mixed the names were changed to Greenhead and Oakbank. Both retained the name grammar as a concession to those who hoped that the values held in the old schools would be apparent in the new schools.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
In 1968, Greenhead Grammar School began to evolve as a mixed 14-18 comprehensive school for approximately 800 students, the first full intake from feeder schools commencing in September 1967, whilst transfer into the Sixth Form began in 1966. In 1967-68, there were still selected girls' classes from the second to upper sixth forms, but there were now 10 forms at 4th year level, two-¬thirds of which came from feeder schools and were mixed boys and girls. There were also non-selected pupils at 6th form level.

Greenhead is a very different school from the Keighley Girls' Grammar School which opened on the present site 60 years ago in 1934, yet many of the principles and standards which gave the school its character at that time are still very much in evidence today. Students and teachers have always been proud to be members of the school community and have the memories of the time they spent at the school. Greenhead intends to continue to be at the forefront in educating young people for the future and looks forward to many more successful years.

The booklet has been produced with support from the Trustees of the Drake and Tonson Foundation.

Greenhead Reunion Group would also like to thank Mr. Mizon and Greenhead Grammar School for allowing the text and images of this booklet to be used on this web site.

©1994 Greenhead Grammar School

[anorak]

Many thanks, as usual !

[parkwoodgirl]

I believe the first Girls Grammer School in Keighley was on Cooke Lane, and eventually became the Gas Offices.

[Admin]

Parkwood Girl

The first school was built in 1716 on Cooke Lane with monies bequeathed by John Drake - to the right of the building was the Tonson preparatory school. It was built in a retired spot so the boys could not make observation of who went by, which would mightily hinder a close application to their books. This structure was used until 1859 when the second school was built to the North of Keighley at Flosh.

The first girls school opened on Strawberry Street in 1872, which was the first to be opened in the country under the Endowed Schools Act 1869. It was housed in buildings formerly occupied by the boys which was built in 1859.

Hope this helps - more info on the Cooke Lane School appreciated, if known

Jan

We do have a comprehensive history, and we will attempt to do a TIMELINE for the schools.

WIll keep you up to date