Tadcaster Grammar School

Tadcaster Grammar School is a secondary school near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. Despite its name, it is a comprehensive school, not a grammar school. It educates children aged 11–18, having a sixth form. Since 1998, the headmaster has been Geoff Mitchell. Students of the school call it "Tad Grammar" or "TGS". The school became a specialist Business and Enterprise College in 2003 and received High Performing Specialist School Status in 2007. Originally under the grammar school system, pupils who failed their 11 plus exam would have attended Wetherby Secondary Modern School (now Wetherby High School). However, since Tadcaster is now in the district of Selby and Wetherby is in the City of Leeds, it is a difficult and bureaucratic process to educate pupils on the opposite side of the borderline to where they live.

History

It was founded in 1557 by Owen Oglethorpe, Bishop of Carlisle as a boys' school in Tadcaster. It merged with the Dawson's Girls' School at the beginning of the 20th century.

Although originating as a grammar school, in 1965 it became one of the first comprehensive schools in the country. Despite the change, the name of the school remained the same.

In 1960 it moved to the site of Toulston Lodge, just outside of Tadcaster. Although Toulston Lodge has now been converted into classrooms, as opposed to living quarters (once belonging to Oliver Cromwell), the original fireplace is still in place, as is the skylight and the wooden elephants that surround it.

Since 2000, the school has seen many new buildings added including a new science block, library, and an extension to the Design Technology block. In addition, a new sixth-form block was constructed which also houses Religious Education classrooms, and there is a new entrance area with two business classrooms.

During summer 2006, a new entrance was built with automatic doors, a new disabled ramp was built for access to the science block and a new path was built along the school car park to the pottery shed.

Uniform

* Girls' uniform is navy jumper with white blouse and skirt (with tights or socks) or navy trousers. Trousers are worn with black, grey or white socks. An optional tie can be worn.

* The boys' uniform is a black blazer with white shirt (grey jumper under blazer optional), trousers and black or grey socks. A tie must always be worn. In summer the uniform is relaxed, and blazers are no longer compulsory, and can be left at home.

Notable alumni

*Glamour Of The Kill - Heavy Rock band signed to S.O.A.R.
*David Brown - Bradford City Footballer
*Grammatics - Indie rock band
*Thomas Staniforth - Sheffield Wednesday Footballer

External links

* [http://www.tgsbec.com Official school website]