Poole Grammar School
Poole Grammar School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Latin) "The End Crowns the Work" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Established | 1904 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Local authority | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Department for Education URN | 136850 Tables | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ofsted | Reports | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Headteacher | Amanda Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Staff | 150 (approx.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gender | Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Age | 11 to 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enrolment | 1,200 pupils (approx.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colour(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scarf | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Affiliations | South West Academic Trust (SWAT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former pupils | Old Grammarians | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | http://www.poolegrammar.com |
Poole Grammar School (commonly abbreviated to PGS) is an 11–18 selective boys grammar school and academy in the coastal town of Poole in Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is a member of the South West Academic Trust (SWAT). The school was a mathematics and computing school, with an additional specialism, cognition, added in 2006.
It is situated in the north of Poole, on the A349 (known locally as Gravel Hill), in a campus built in 1966, with various additions made since.
History
Establishment
An early Poole Grammar School was built in 1628 by Thomas Robarts, Mayor of Poole. This school taught "Latin grammar and kindred subjects" and saw moderate success in the 18th century, before a decline against "competition from nonconformist academies and the general economic decline of the town," and eventual closure in 1835.[1]: 4
In 1902 the
Post–war and WWII
"The immediate post war years also saw [Poole Secondary School] breach one of the last bastions of elite education when, in successive years, the first girl and then the first boy went to
In 1933 the
Following the Second World War, Poole Grammar School admissions were solely boys who had passed the 11+, with the Education Act 1944 ending fee paying students. In 1960 Poole Grammar School's current location between
Recent history, 1971–
A fire in 1971 caused £5,000 worth of damage to the school.[1]: 111 Between 2006 and 2009 the Ashley Thorne Building (named after a former and long serving governor of the school) was built to house the music and drama departments, as well as a new library.[4] The latter has since been converted into Sixth Form study space and the library moved to its previous position in the school.
Overview
Admissions
The school has 1,200 male students from the surrounding area aged 11 to 18. To gain acceptance to the school, pupils must sit and pass the Eleven-plus exams, testing mathematics, English, and verbal reasoning.[2] Excellence in the fields of sport or arts is not grounds for special admission; however, many of its pupils compete at county, national and international level, or go on to study at film schools, conservatories and art houses.[2]
The school has accepted pupils from the age of 11 (
School Uniform
Poole Grammar students in Years 7–11 wear a uniform of a green blazer, black or grey trousers and a white shirt. The boys in Years 7–8 wear a school tie without stripes, those in Year 9–11 wear a tie with stripes.
Once entering the sixth form, students may wear their own choice of clothing, though this must still include a shirt and tie, smart trousers and either brown or black shoes.[5]
For sport, the boys are required to wear a white T-shirt, the school's green and yellow rugby jersey, black shorts and bottle green football socks. When attending science classes or certain Design Technology classes the boys are expected to bring a white lab coat.[5]
Subjects
Curriculum subjects
Poole Grammar School mandates GCSEs in either double or triple science, English language and literature, mathematics, and religion and philosophy. The school also offers GCSEs in art, biology, computing and ICT, Design Technology (resistant Materials; graphics; food technology), drama, geography, history, foreign languages (French, German, and Spanish), and music.
Poole Grammar offers A-Levels in all of the above subjects, as well as ancient history, business studies, economics, geology, media studies, politics, psychology, and sociology.
Sporting subjects
Sport is a major part of life at Poole Grammar, which has only had four heads of sport and
In 2022 Poole Grammar School's under 15s rugby side reached the finals of the national schools rugby, beating
The pupils partake in many sports throughout the year from football to tennis. During the winter term, pupils participate in rugby during their games lessons. During the spring term, the pupils play football. In the summer term, pupils play a variety of games including cricket, tennis and softball. Most of these sports contain an inter-form tournament towards the end of the term. Pupils competing in cross country running train on Canford Heath during lunch hour.[2]
Headteachers
- Mr. John Dyson Esq. 1904-1906 (Chairman of Governors, no Headmaster yet appointed)
- Mr. G. E. Boyer, 1906-7
- Mr. Albert James Mockridge, 1907-1928
- Mr. Archibald Greenfield, 1928-1950
- Mr. Frank H. Stevens, 1950-1954
- Mr. John Cleave, 1954-1972 (after whom the school theatre is named)
- Mr. Nigel Gilpin, 1973-1990 (to whom the school's main hall is dedicated)
- Mr. Haydn Adams, 1990
- Mr. John Wheway, 1990
- Mr. Alex Clarke, 1990-2004
- Mr. Ian Carter, 2004-2014
- Mr. Andy Baker, 2014-2020 [9]
- Dr. Amanda J Smith, 2020-
Notable former pupils
- Nick Aplin
- San Jose Research Laboratoryin California
- Jim Cregan, musician
- Michael Joseph Crumpton FRS was Director of Research (Laboratories) for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories (now part of Cancer Research UK)
- Prof CBE
- John Finnemore, writer and actor
- Ant Henson, British singer-songwriter
- Paul Higham, cricketer
- Dave Lanning, sports commentator
- Richard Oakes, guitarist for the band Suede
- Luton Town
- Josh Carmichael, footballer with Weymouth
- Piers Copeland, Professional Athlete
- Jacob Peters, Professional Swimmer
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Powell, S. G. R. (2004). Finis Opus Coronat: A History of Poole Grammar School 1904-2004 Poole Grammar School
- ^ a b c d e f "BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON POOLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL" (PDF). Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ^ Juliette Astrup (1 September 2010). "Work on new park at Poole's Dolphin Swimming Pool due to start". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ^ "Poole Grammar School". www.torltd.co.uk/. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Dress Code". Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ^ Goldman, Andrew (28 July 2021). "School in Poole given £3.8million to build new sports hall". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Crocker, Tom (8 March 2022). "Poole Grammar School stars set for trip to Saracens for national rugby final". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ Goodwin, Paul (6 April 2022). "WATCH: Hill House School rugby team win national final at Saracens' StoneX Stadium". Doncaster Free Press.:
- ^ Reader, Jane (10 December 2019). "Poole headteacher "moves on" after 40 years of teaching". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 24 November 2021.