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{{Primary sources|date=April 2008}}
{{Infobox School
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
| name = Harrogate Grammar School
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
| name2 = Harrogate Grammar School
{{Infobox school
| image=hgs_shield.jpg
| name = Harrogate Grammar School
| imagesize = 175px
| image = hgs_shield.jpg
| motto=Arx Celebris Fontibus
| image_size = 175px
| established = 1903
| coordinates = {{coord|53.98010|-1.5473|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
| type=[[Comprehensive school|Comprehensive]]
| motto = Arx Celebris Fontibus
| address=
| established = 1885
| faculty = 120
| closed =
| students = 1,740
| type = [[Academy (English school)|Academy]]
| principal = Mr. Richard Sheriff
| religious_affiliation =
| free_label = Sixth form
| president =
| free_text = 460
| head_label = Headteacher
| location = Arthurs Avenue, [[Harrogate]], [[North Yorkshire]], HG2 0DZ
| head = Neil Renton
| country = GBR
| r_head_label =
| information = 01423 531127
| r_head =
| free_label2 = Email
| chair_label =
| free_text2 = admin@hgs.n-yorks.sch.uk
| chair =
| free_label3 = Fax
| founder =
| free_text3 = 01423 521325
| address = Arthurs Avenue
| website = http://www.hgs.n-yorks.sch.uk/
| city = [[Harrogate, North Yorkshire]]
| write up=
| country = England
| postcode = HG2 9HU
| dfeno = 815/4200
| urn = 136497
| ofsted = yes
| staff = 120
| enrolment = 2,021
| lower_age = 11
| upper_age = 18
| houses = Ventus, Terra, Ignis and Aqua
| colours =
| publication =
| free_label_1 = Sixth form
| free_1 = 460
| free_label_2 =
| free_2 =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = {{url|www.harrogategrammar.co.uk}}
}}
}}
'''Harrogate Grammar School''' is a specialist [[Language College|Language]] and [[Technology College]] in [[Harrogate]], [[North Yorkshire]], England, UK. It has about 1700 pupils and there are about 400 pupils in the [[sixth form]]. The current [[headmaster]] is Mr. Richard Sheriff who became the full time [[headmaster]] of the school in January 2007. Mr Sheriff was appointed to replace the previous headmaster, Dr. Phillip Limbert, who left to take up the post as executive headteacher at two schools in Kent. On the 5th March 2008, the "new gym" roof was badly damaged in a fire at the school<ref>http://www.harrogateadvertiser.net/harrogatenews/Pupils-flee-as-blaze-hits.3852670.jp</ref>, which was thought to be started accidentally as there was building work going on around that area.
===Early history===
Harrogate Grammar School was founded in 1903 as the Municipal Secondary Day School of Harrogate. Its original premises were simply a collection of rented rooms in Haywra Cresent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.hgs.n-yorks.sch.uk/hgsweb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=57|title=Harrogate Grammar School History|accessdate=2007-02-05}}</ref> By the time the school achieved [[Grammar School]] status in 1931 the school had long since outgrown its premises as the original roll of 44 pupils had grown to 666. Work began on the 'new' Grammar School in Arthurs Avenue, to which the staff and pupils transferred in 1933.
[[Image:HGS Outside 01.jpg|thumb|300px|left|The main 1933 building]]


'''Harrogate Grammar School''' is a co-educational [[academy]] school and [[sixth form]] in [[Harrogate, North Yorkshire]], England. It has around 1,900 pupils in the main school.<ref>[https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136497 "Harrogate Grammar School"] Get Information about Schools. Retrieved 1 May 2019.</ref> A 2022 [[Ofsted]] inspection rated the school as 'Outstanding' in all five areas of the Ofsted framework<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-26 |title=HGS rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted |url=https://www.harrogategrammar.co.uk/news/hgs-rated-outstanding-by-ofsted/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=Harrogate Grammar School |language=en}}</ref>


==History==
Harrogate Grammar School was founded in 1903 as the Municipal Secondary Day School of Harrogate. Its original premises were a collection of rented rooms in Haywra Crescent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.hgs.n-yorks.sch.uk/hgsweb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=57|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231213342/http://web.hgs.n-yorks.sch.uk/hgsweb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=57|archive-date=31 December 2009|title=Harrogate Grammar School History|access-date=13 May 2012}}</ref> By the time the school became a [[Grammar School]] in 1931 the original roll of 44 pupils had grown to 530, and the school had outgrown its premises. Work began on the new grammar school in Arthurs Avenue and the staff and pupils transferred in 1933.


===Expansion===
===Expansion===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2018}}
During [[World War II]] evacuees poured in to Harrogate from the cities. This swelled the roll at the school to 900, still a small number compared with the current roll of 1337 (as of 2006).
[[File:HGS Outside 01.jpg|thumb|300px|left|The main 1933 building]]
During the Second World War, many evacuees came to Harrogate from the cities, and the school's roll went up to 900 pupils. To keep pace with these numbers, the school undertook various periods of building expansion, most notably the 1970s addition of a sports hall and gymnasium, as well as music, reflexology and technology facilities.


===Sixth Form===
To keep pace with these numbers there have been various periods of building expansion, notably in the 1970s with the addition of a sports hall, gymnasium, music, technology facilities.
The school has undergone a period of growth in its Sixth Form and now has around 540 students on roll. The increased provision for Sixth Form began in the 1980s when a dedicated Sixth Form block was added.


The sixth form was further extended in 2013 as The Sherwood Wing, named after Mrs Jan Sherwood, a former Sixth Form Director, for her contribution to the school.
In 1973 the school became a [[Comprehensive School]], but the [[headmaster]] of the time was not in favour of the comprehensive school system and began a campaign for the school to retain at least its grammar school name if not the status. After a lengthy battle with the local authority the school won its bid to retain its name and is still know as Harrogate Grammar School today.


The school was named in July 2019 as a computing hub for the [[National Centre for Computing Education]].
In the 1980s a new sixth form block was added to the school and has recently been further extended. A humanities building was added in the 1990s. A new-build library and [[information technology|IT]] suite were opened in July 2006. The most recent addition to the school's facilities is a series of temporary classrooms, added in January 2007.


===Specialist status===
===Specialist language status===
In 2002 Harrogate Grammar School acquired Specialist Language Status and now enjoys state-of-the-art language-learning facilities as well as the services of six native speaker language assistants each year. In 2006 the school was recognised as an extremely successful [[specialist school]] and was invited to take on a second specialism in technology.
In 2002 Harrogate Grammar School was given Specialist Language Status. In 2006 the school was recognised as a successful [[specialist school]] and was invited to take on a second specialism in technology.


===Academy and National Teaching School status===
==Motto==
In 2011, following the government's plans to turn high performing comprehensive schools in the UK into academies, the school was granted academy status. The school operated an independent academy trust until the formation of the Red Kite Learning Trust (RKLT) in late 2015. The RKLT formed as a multi-academy trust (MAT) with partner schools, including nearby primary schools and Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley who had already been linked through the Red Kite Alliance (RKA), a group of schools through which teaching and learning development is shared.
The school shares its motto with the town of Harrogate. "Arx Celebris Fontibus" translates from Latin as "Citadel famous for its springs".


The Learning Trust and Alliance is based at Harrogate Grammar School and they coordinate events, conferences, networking and School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) through Red Kite Teacher Training thanks to the status of Harrogate Grammar as a National Teaching School.
==Sport==
[[Image:Outside 03.jpg|thumb|285px|Main building, new library and shale pitch|right]]


==Staff==
The school also enjoys an extensive compliment of extra curricular activities which includes Sport.
The current [[headteacher]] is Neil Renton who was appointed to the role in January 2019 to take over the post from former head Richard Sheriff in September 2019. Richard Sheriff had been head of the school since 2007, but is due to stay involved with the school closely in his role as CEO of the Red Kite Learning Trust of which Harrogate Grammar is a founding member.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mr Neil Renton appointed as new Headteacher - Harrogate Grammar School|publisher= Harrogate Grammar School|url=https://www.harrogategrammar.co.uk/news/mr-neil-renton-appointed-as-new-headteacher/|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref>


==Motto==
[[Rugby union]] is the School's main sport for Boys which is played every Saturday morning during the season which lasts usually from September to March. Many of the boys who have played the 15-a side game who learned the sport at the school have gone on to better things with [[Martyn Wood]] selected for England Under 18's in 1994. He soon became a professional rugby player and played for [[London Wasps]] and [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] before injury saw his Retirement from the game in 2006. Most recently former headboy, Edward Pickles has been regularly playing for England Under 19's.
The school shares its motto with the town of Harrogate. "Arx Celebris Fontibus" translated from Latin as, "A citadel famous for its springs".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London [u.a.]|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/16 16]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/16}}</ref>
Also many boys have gone on to play for the Yorkshire and North Yorkshire County sides. The School teams did well during the 2006-2007 season with the Senior and Under 13's both winning the Yorkshire Cup competition with the Under 16's coming close reaching the semi finals. This year the 1st XV made an assault on the National Cup competition but were knocked out in the third round by [[Woodhouse Grove School]] from Bradford. Current player and Year 13 student, Philip Swainston currently plays for England Under 19's.


[[File:Outside 03.jpg|thumb|285px|The new Library and Learning Support Building completed in 2007|right]]
[[Association football|Football]] is not quite as popular as Rugby but over the past few years seems to have got a bit more time. Most of the teams are taken by Non-PE Staff. Last season's best achievement was the Under 12 team who had a superb season winning the Area League and thrashing teams, (most notably 6-0 Vs St Aidans) and also going on a great Area Cup run all the way to the final which sadly ended in a 2-0 defeat against St Aidans, whom saw the Year 7's miss out on a double and also a whole season unbeaten. Indeed that defeat was the only the game they lost all year. The team consisted of Dominic Taylor, Steven Townsend, Gregory Mcvey, Rory Hodson, Josh Reaney, Charles Edmonson, Jake Mills,Jake Reaney, Joe James, Tom Blackburn(Leeds Academy), Felix Peach, Louise Swain, Jake Hallet and last but not least Ryan Smith. Other players that did not make the team were Arran Laird.


==House system==
The School now finally boasts a 1st XI side which was non existent in previous years. The next step in football is to get the sides into the County Cup competition which sadly HGS have not been in lately which considering the talent of many of the boys is a crying shame.
The school operates a House system, introduced in the 1950s. It was later ended but reinstated in 2001. The current houses are: Ventus, Ignis, Terra and Aqua, representing the four [[Classical element#Greece|classical elements]].


==Bullying==
The Girls are starting to compete in the sport as of late and many now play for club sides at weekends.
In 1999, North Yorkshire [[County Council]] paid £6000 in an out-of-court settlement, "with no admission of liability" to a former pupil who stated that Harrogate Grammar School persistently failed to protect him from [[bullying]]. In 1999, the pupil and his mother founded the charity Bullying Online, now [[Bullying UK]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/492319.stm |title=Education Bullying victim paid £6,000 by council |access-date=3 February 2007 |work =BBC News| date=1 November 1999}}</ref>

There have been many honours in the sport for HGS. This year, Year 10 pupil, Luke Garbutt was selected to play for England Under 16's and made two appearances in the Victory Shield competition which England won in November 2007. The Leeds United youngster played a crucial role at left-back in his sides 2-1 win over Scotland.

Jonny Richardson in Year 9 is currently on the books of [[Bradford City]].

[[Cricket]] was a success for the School during Season 2007. The Under 13's (Year 8) ended up reaching the Semi finals of the Lord Taveners National Cup. They had previously won the North Yorkshire Cup the previous year while the team had been in Year 7. The following September they beat Leeds Grammar to win the Full Yorkshire Cup competition therefore seeing them qualify for the National Stages representing, Yorkshire. The team defeated [[Yarm School]] in the Last 16 before putting out in a shock victory, hot favourites [[Manchester Grammar School]] to reach the Semi finals. The team were edged out against [[Loughborough Grammar School]] and therefore the dream ended. However the team's achievement will never be forgotten. The team will surely want to do the same thing again next year.

Other sports for boys include [[hockey]], [[tennis]], [[basketball]], [[athletics (track and field)|athletics]] and [[cross country running|cross country]].

The main sport for girls is [[netball]]. The teams have enjoyed success over the past few years. In 2005-2006 The Under 16 team (Year 10/11) got to the national stages of English School's in [[Manchester]] following success in County and Area tournaments. The same team have gone on to qualify for the national stages again in 2008 which will be held in March 2008 in [[Bournemouth]]. Grammar are seen in the Harrogate & District Area as the strongest team. This year they have continued their fine achievement with the Sixth form girls reaching the national stages like they did two seasons back with sisters, Rachel and Amy Garrett playing for Leeds Carnegie and also featuring in trials for England. Since September 2007, the new Year 7 netball teams have also been doing very well on the netball court.

[[Hockey]] is also another popular sport among girls and sometimes boys as well. In 2006-2007 The Under 15 girls team (Year 9/10) recently won the Harrogate & District tournament for the first time since 1982. Grammar's hockey team play their home games on the Shale, a ground which has proven to be a frustration for visiting opponents but also for its notorious gravel which during bad conditions such as Rain and Snow can prove to be dangerous as well as affecting the quality of the general game. This means that many of Grammar's matches have been played away.

[[Rounders]], [[tennis]], [[badminton]], [[football (soccer)|football]], [[cross country running|cross country]] and [[athletics (track and field)|athletics]] are also played for the girls.

In terms of course, Physical Education is offered at GCSE and A-level. There is also the Young Community Sports Leader award for Year 10 and the Step into Sport programme for Year 12/13.
The current reporter for the School's sport coverage is Year 12 pupil '''Birchy'''.

==Sixth Form==
The school has undergone a period of growth in its sixth form and now has a roll of 460 students. The increased provision for sixth form began in the 1980s when a dedicated sixth form block was added. Increasing numbers have meant that the sixth form accommodation has been extended in recent years with the latest addition being a number of temporary classrooms which were installed in early 2007.

Qualifications taught in the sixth form include GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level Qualifications, the GCE Advanced Level Qualifications and the increasingly popular [[International Baccalaureate]] diploma<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibo.org/school/002217/ |title=Harrogate Grammar School |accessdate=2007-02-03 |format= |work= }}</ref>.

Sixth formers are encouraged at the School to take up roles as Prefects or House Captains.
Prefects can then apply for the role as a Senior Prefect. A boy and girl from the Senior Prefect team are then elected as Head Boy and Girl.

The Sixth Form centre also includes a "Luxury" dining facility called "The Gate" which is run and maintained by the canteen staff, it sells various foods such as paninis, bagels and pizza. this dining facility is exclusive to the sixth form.

== House System ==

The School operates a House system. The School originally included the House system in the 1950's but it was then scrapped for a minority of reasons. It was however resurrected in 2001. The Houses consist of: Red, Green, Yellow and Blue.

Students in all year groups from each House system have the chance to represent their House in a large number of Sport, Writing, Art, Music and drama activities that take place across the School Academic year.

The current holders of the House Shield are Green House who were captained to victory in the 2006-2007 season by Phil Swainston and Rosie Green.

== Bullying ==
In 1999, North Yorkshire [[County Council]] paid [[Pound sterling|£]]6000 in an out-of-court settlement to John Carnell, a former pupil who claimed that Harrogate Grammar School persistently failed to protect him from [[bullying]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/492319.stm |title=Education Bullying victim paid £6,000 by council |accessdate=2007-02-03 |format= |work= }}</ref> The school denied these claims and now has an Anti-Bullying Policy in place, which can be inspected on request. In 1999 John Carnell and his mother Liz Carnell founded the charity [[Bullying Online]].


==Air Training Corps==
==Air Training Corps==
On 17 February 1939, No 58 (Harrogate) Squadron of the [[Air Defence Cadet Corps]] was established at the school by the [[Air League|Air League of the British Empire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.58squadron.org.uk/index.php?p=5|title=58 (Harrogate) Squadron History|access-date=5 February 2007|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202210445/http://www.58squadron.org.uk/index.php?p=5|archive-date=2 February 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The squadron has since moved to separate premises and is no longer associated with the school. Pupils from the school are still active cadets within the squadron.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}
{{main| Air Training Corps}}
On [[February 17]] [[1939]] No 58 (Harrogate) Squadron of the [[Air Defence Cadet Corps]] was established at the school by the [[Air League|Air League of the British Empire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.58squadron.org.uk/index.php?p=5|title=58 (Harrogate) Squadron History|accessdate=2007-02-05}}</ref> The squadron has since moved to separate premises and no longer has an association with the school. However, there are still several students from the school who are active cadets at the squadron.


==Fire==
==Notable alumni==
{{see also|Category:People educated at Harrogate Grammar School}}
At approximately 1830 on [[March 5]] [[2008]] emergency services were called to attend to a fire on the roof of the "New Gym", a gymnasium, measuring approximately 40m by 20m.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2096655.0.major_blaze_at_grammar_school.php|title=Major Blaze at Grammar School|accessdate=2007-02-05}}</ref>
* Second Lieutenant [[Donald Simpson Bell|Donald Bell]] [[Victoria Cross|VC]], Army officer and professional footballer, awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions on the [[Battle of the Somme|Somme]] in 1916.<ref>[https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest/yorkshire-footballer-won-vc-for-attack-on-german-trench-1-3014676 "Yorkshire footballer won VC for attack on German trench".] Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2019</ref>
*[[Andrew Brons]], [[British National Party]] (BNP) [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] for [[Yorkshire and the Humber (European Parliament constituency)|Yorkshire and the Humber]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jun/08/european-elections-bnp|title=Andrew Brons: the genteel face of neo-fascism|last=Campbell|first=Duncan|date=8 June 2009|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/politics/mep-andrew-brons-to-stand-down-at-election-1-6538148|title=MEP Andrew Brons to stand down at election |date=3 April 2014|work=Harrogate Advertiser|publisher=Johnston Press Digital Publishing|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref>
* [[Stuart Colman]] – Record producer who worked with Shakin Stevens <ref>[https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/obituaries/stuart-colman-musician-and-producer-1-9142417, "Stuart Colman, musician and producer"] The Yorkshire Post, 26 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2019.</ref>
* [[Jenny Duncalf]] – Professional squash player, having held Number 2 world ranking <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7120652.squash-news/?ref=arc|title=Squash News|date=12 January 2001|work=The Northern Echo|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref>
* [[Luke Garbutt]] – Current professional footballer for [[England national under-21 football team]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.harrogate-news.co.uk/2011/07/16/local-success-in-gaining-football-honours/|title=Local success in gaining football honours|date=16 July 2011|work=Harrogate Informer|access-date=7 June 2020}}</ref>
* [[Andrew Scarborough]] - Professional actor who has appeared in ''[[The Bill]]'', ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' and most notably starred in ''[[Downton Abbey]]''. He and [[Hugo Speer]] also from the grammar school, starred together in the BBC comedy drama ''[[Hearts and Bones (TV series)|Hearts and Bones]]''
* [[Hugo Speer]]- Professional actor who has appeared in ''[[The Bill]]'', ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' and most notably ''[[The Full Monty]]'' <ref>[https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/sneak-preview-the-year-of-the-rat-1-2493180, "Sneak preview: The Year of the Rat"], The Yorkshire Post, 11 March 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2019.</ref>
* [[Phil Swainston]] – England Youth International and professional Rugby Union player for Premiership team London Wasps and Harlequins <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.quins.co.uk/team/players/phil-swainston/|title=Swainston Phil|publisher=Harlequins Rugby|access-date= 1 May 2019}}</ref>
* [[Martyn Wood]] – [[England national rugby union team|England]] international [[rugby union]] footballer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bathrugbyheritage.org/content/heritage-topics/people/player-profiles/wood-martyn|title=Wood Martyn|publisher=Bath Rugby|work=Bath Rugby Heritage|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref>


==Charity Work==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
Harrogate Grammar School is very involved within its charities, over the years it has produced phenomenal figures, exceeding over £5000 each year. The money is raised from the students and open days held by the school for the public. The schools efforts to get pupils involved into charity work are rigorous and most students take a part in the charity work, from purchasing a cake, to shaving their hair.


==Ofsted==
==External links==
*[http://www.harrogategrammar.co.uk/ Official website]


{{Schools in North Yorkshire}}
In the most recent OFSTED inspection, the school gained an "outstanding" grade.


{{authority control}}
== Alumni ==

* Jenny Duncalf - Professional squash player: Current British National Championship holder
* Steven Collins - Ex-[[York City F.C.|York City]] football youth player
* [[Martyn Wood]] - Ex rugby professional star.
* [[Hugo Speer]]- Professional actor who has appeared in [[The Bill]] and [[Heartbeat]]
* Jamie Brambleby - Entered for the Physics Olympiad, will support England in the Finals, located in Vietnam. (Source: The Link)

== Achievement links ==
*[http://www.thefa.com/England/U16s/Players/ England Football U16's Call Up For Year 10 Student Luke Garbutt]

==References==
<references/>


[[Category:Grammar schools in Yorkshire]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Academies in North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1903]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1903]]
[[Category:Language Colleges in England]]
[[Category:Technology Colleges in England]]
[[Category:Schools in Harrogate]]
[[Category:Schools in Harrogate]]
[[Category:Secondary schools in North Yorkshire]]

Latest revision as of 20:42, 13 October 2024

Harrogate Grammar School
Address
Map
Arthurs Avenue

Harrogate, North Yorkshire
,
HG2 9HU

England
Coordinates53°58′48″N 1°32′50″W / 53.98010°N 1.5473°W / 53.98010; -1.5473
Information
TypeAcademy
MottoArx Celebris Fontibus
Established1885
Department for Education URN136497 Tables
OfstedReports
HeadteacherNeil Renton
Staff120
Age11 to 18
Enrolment2,021
HousesVentus, Terra, Ignis and Aqua
Sixth form460
Websitewww.harrogategrammar.co.uk

Harrogate Grammar School is a co-educational academy school and sixth form in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It has around 1,900 pupils in the main school.[1] A 2022 Ofsted inspection rated the school as 'Outstanding' in all five areas of the Ofsted framework[2]

History

[edit]

Harrogate Grammar School was founded in 1903 as the Municipal Secondary Day School of Harrogate. Its original premises were a collection of rented rooms in Haywra Crescent.[3] By the time the school became a Grammar School in 1931 the original roll of 44 pupils had grown to 530, and the school had outgrown its premises. Work began on the new grammar school in Arthurs Avenue and the staff and pupils transferred in 1933.

Expansion

[edit]
The main 1933 building

During the Second World War, many evacuees came to Harrogate from the cities, and the school's roll went up to 900 pupils. To keep pace with these numbers, the school undertook various periods of building expansion, most notably the 1970s addition of a sports hall and gymnasium, as well as music, reflexology and technology facilities.

Sixth Form

[edit]

The school has undergone a period of growth in its Sixth Form and now has around 540 students on roll. The increased provision for Sixth Form began in the 1980s when a dedicated Sixth Form block was added.

The sixth form was further extended in 2013 as The Sherwood Wing, named after Mrs Jan Sherwood, a former Sixth Form Director, for her contribution to the school.

The school was named in July 2019 as a computing hub for the National Centre for Computing Education.

Specialist language status

[edit]

In 2002 Harrogate Grammar School was given Specialist Language Status. In 2006 the school was recognised as a successful specialist school and was invited to take on a second specialism in technology.

Academy and National Teaching School status

[edit]

In 2011, following the government's plans to turn high performing comprehensive schools in the UK into academies, the school was granted academy status. The school operated an independent academy trust until the formation of the Red Kite Learning Trust (RKLT) in late 2015. The RKLT formed as a multi-academy trust (MAT) with partner schools, including nearby primary schools and Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley who had already been linked through the Red Kite Alliance (RKA), a group of schools through which teaching and learning development is shared.

The Learning Trust and Alliance is based at Harrogate Grammar School and they coordinate events, conferences, networking and School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) through Red Kite Teacher Training thanks to the status of Harrogate Grammar as a National Teaching School.

Staff

[edit]

The current headteacher is Neil Renton who was appointed to the role in January 2019 to take over the post from former head Richard Sheriff in September 2019. Richard Sheriff had been head of the school since 2007, but is due to stay involved with the school closely in his role as CEO of the Red Kite Learning Trust of which Harrogate Grammar is a founding member.[4]

Motto

[edit]

The school shares its motto with the town of Harrogate. "Arx Celebris Fontibus" translated from Latin as, "A citadel famous for its springs".[5]

The new Library and Learning Support Building completed in 2007

House system

[edit]

The school operates a House system, introduced in the 1950s. It was later ended but reinstated in 2001. The current houses are: Ventus, Ignis, Terra and Aqua, representing the four classical elements.

Bullying

[edit]

In 1999, North Yorkshire County Council paid £6000 in an out-of-court settlement, "with no admission of liability" to a former pupil who stated that Harrogate Grammar School persistently failed to protect him from bullying. In 1999, the pupil and his mother founded the charity Bullying Online, now Bullying UK.[6]

Air Training Corps

[edit]

On 17 February 1939, No 58 (Harrogate) Squadron of the Air Defence Cadet Corps was established at the school by the Air League of the British Empire.[7] The squadron has since moved to separate premises and is no longer associated with the school. Pupils from the school are still active cadets within the squadron.[citation needed]

Notable alumni

[edit]
See also: Category:People educated at Harrogate Grammar School

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Harrogate Grammar School" Get Information about Schools. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  2. ^ "HGS rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted". Harrogate Grammar School. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Harrogate Grammar School History". Archived from the original on 31 December 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Mr Neil Renton appointed as new Headteacher - Harrogate Grammar School". Harrogate Grammar School. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  5. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London [u.a.]: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 16. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  6. ^ "Education Bullying victim paid £6,000 by council". BBC News. 1 November 1999. Retrieved 3 February 2007.
  7. ^ "58 (Harrogate) Squadron History". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  8. ^ "Yorkshire footballer won VC for attack on German trench". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2019
  9. ^ Campbell, Duncan (8 June 2009). "Andrew Brons: the genteel face of neo-fascism". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  10. ^ "MEP Andrew Brons to stand down at election". Harrogate Advertiser. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Stuart Colman, musician and producer" The Yorkshire Post, 26 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Squash News". The Northern Echo. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Local success in gaining football honours". Harrogate Informer. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Sneak preview: The Year of the Rat", The Yorkshire Post, 11 March 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  15. ^ "Swainston Phil". Harlequins Rugby. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Wood Martyn". Bath Rugby Heritage. Bath Rugby. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
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