- Ermysted's Grammar School
Infobox UK school
name = Ermysted's Grammar School
size =
latitude = 53.9634
longitude = -2.0227
dms =
motto = "Suivez La Raison"
motto_pl =
established = 1492
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type =Voluntary aided grammar
religion =
president =
head_label = Headmaster
head = Mr G Hamilton
r_head_label = Predecessor
r_head = Mr T L Ashworth
chair_label = Deputy Head
chair = Mr D G Clough
founder = Peter Toller, William Ermysted
founder_pl = yes
specialist = Science
specialist_pl =
street = Gargrave Road
city =Skipton
county =North Yorkshire
country =England flagicon|England
postcode = BD23 1PL
LEA =North Yorkshire
ofsted = 121716
staff = 50
enrollment = 700
gender = Boys
lower_age = 11
upper_age = 18
houses = Ermysted color box|green
Hartley color box|green
Petyt color box|green
Toller color box|green
colours = Black and White color box|blackcolor box|black
publications = Chronicles of Ermysted's, Ted
free_label_1 = Head Boy
free_1 = Richard Carr
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
website = http://www.ermysteds.n-yorks.sch.uk/
website_name = www.ermysteds.n-yorks.sch.ukErmysted's Grammar School is a LEA-funded selective boys'
Grammar School inSkipton ,North Yorkshire teaching over 700 pupils.It is the seventh oldest state school in Britain and was founded by Peter Toller in the
15th century . The first official record of the school was seen in Peter Toller's will in 1492. Therefore the school records its establishment as the same year.The motto of the school is 'Suivez La Raison'. Translation from the French is roughly 'follow the truth'. The school operates a house system with inter-house competition in sports, and an annual house quiz held around Christmas. The four houses, Toller (blue tie), Ermysted (yellow tie), Petyt (green tie) and Hartley (red/burgundy tie), are named after key figures in the school's history.
The current
headmaster is Mr Graham Hamilton. His predecessor was Mr Thomas Ashworth, who retired at the end of the previous school year. The currenthead boy is Richard Carr.The A-level results of 2006 officially placed it as the best school in Yorkshire, beating many prestigious fee paying schools, and amongst the top 25 nationally. [http://www.ermysteds.n-yorks.sch.uk/news.htm Ermysted's Grammar School - News ] ] The school repeated this success in the 2007 exams, and was once again amongst the top schools nationally. [http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/schools/Pupils-have-Alevel-success-down.3658281.jp Pupils have A-level success down to a fine art - Yorkshire Post ] ]
Brief history
1492- Peter Toller's will confirmed that he had already founded a school in his
chantry of St Nicholas in the parish church, the school takes this as its founding date1548-
Edward VI 's government took over all chantry lands. William Ermysted re-founded the school with new lands and moved it to the bottom of Shortbank Road1707 + 1719 wills of Old Boys William and Sylvester Petyt were responsible for gifts to the school as well as foundation of the Petyt Library and Petyt Trust
1773-
Leeds and Liverpool Canal reached Skipton, partly built on E.G.S. land1839- New schoolhouse begun on Shortbank Road site
1875- Gargrave Road building begun for 50 day boys and 50 boarders
1876-1907- Mr E. T. Hartley, headmaster at the new school
1882- Pool & Old Gym (now ICT, music and RE rooms) begun
1895- Science block built (A.P.L. + quiet room)
1924-
First World War , memorial library set up by old boys' society (now room 1 & library office)1929- First award of Cook Cup for champion house (won by Hartley)
1933- "New buildings" opened (rooms A-H, staff room and science laboratories).
1959- Memorial Hall (to those lost in the
Second World War )1989- Schoolhouse closes its doors to boarders.
1982-1998- Mr D. M. Buckroyd, headmaster
1992- Quincentenary celebrations - visit by H.R.H. The Princess Royal; pageant; new sports hall
1998-2008- Mr T. L. Ashworth, headmaster
2003- New English/CDT block. Opened by H.R.H. The
Duke of Kent 2006- Ermysted's gains specialist status in science and mathematics
2007- New refectory replaces the ageing canteen as the communal food hall
2008- Old gym and
sixth form common room converted into two new ICT classrooms and two new religious studies classrooms2008- Mr. G. Hamilton, headmaster
2008- School library refurbished
Buildings
The school is situated on a spacious site between Gargrave Road and Grassington Road conveniently located close to the historic centre of Skipton. From the main entrance to the school on Gargrave Road, known as 'the Bottom', the school site slopes gradually up to 'the Top', a large sports field where many activities take place. The bulk of the buildings are old (19th and early 20th centuries) and centre round 'the Quad'. Newer additions (1990s and 2000s) include the
sports hall andcanteen to the north of the site, and the 'New Building' housing CDT, English and ICT facilities to the east. Following recent funding increases and money resulting from the school's specialist status, most of the classrooms in the older buildings have been refurbished and brought up to modern standards; such as the introduction of electronicwhiteboard s. There are currently plans to reconfigure and refurbish the school'slibrary .OFSTED Inspections
In the 2000
OFSTED inspection, the school's results were 'very high' against the national average, especially upon entry, where year 7s (age 11/12) work to a level 'expected of pupils aged 14.' It has an 'outstanding' 6th form with a wide range of subjects.The school is 'very successful' at allowing pupils to reach high academic standards, and the quality of teaching is 'good.'
In the past decade the school has ranked among the top state schools in England for 'A'-level results.
Events
The school and its PTA run a number of popular events. These include a quiz night,
wassail evening (an evening of wine- and carol- based merriment), founders' day (a celebration of the history of the school), speech day (prizegiving and recapitulation of school year), and an annual summer fayre amongst other events.port
Sport is a major part of Ermysted's life. The school competes in
Rugby Union , Cross-Country,Orienteering ,Cricket and Football tournaments with teams, and gains considerable success in events entered. The 1st XI Football are currently enjoying a fruitful campaign and won the county shield, and the 1st XV Rugby team won the Daily Mail Vase Final 2007, the national schools competition. Meanwhile the cross country team continues to dominate in the North of England perhaps due to the fact that once every year all students are required to participate in a school cross country race, which takes place in Aireville Park during the Autumn Term. In December Ermysted's "Inter Boys team finished runners-up in the National Final of the English Schools' Cross-Country Cup competition, held at St. Albans. This repeated the performance of 2005 Junior Boys team at Leeds. Occurring annually in the Summer Term is Sports Day, during which students compete at athletics in front of a huge crowd.Football kit box
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pattern_b = _whitehoops
pattern_ra = _white_hoops
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rightarm = 000000
shorts = 000000
socks = ffffff
title = Rugby KitFootball kit box
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pattern_la = _black_stripes
pattern_b = _blackstripes
pattern_ra = _blue_stripes
leftarm = ffffff
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title = Football KitMusic
The school's successful
Big Band has twice toured Germany under the tutelage of music teacher Simon Gregory and regularly performs in concerts at school as well as at other prestigious local venues. To date they have produced two CDs. There are a number of other ensembles at school, including a string ensemble, Junior Big Band and a jazz combo. A significant proportion of boys receive musical tuition in school and there is a practice room where amateur bands formed by pupils can rehearse after school. Recently, a highly successful covers band, fronted by head boy '07-'08 Christopher Greenwood, 'Topher G and The Smoochies' has taken both fundraisers and proms by storm.Drama
School plays occur once every two years, in conjunction with Skipton Girls' High School. The latest production was "Electric Warrior" in March 2007, based on the life of
Marc Bolan and written by Ermysted's very own Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Head, David Clough. The musical was directed by Christopher Greenwood, a Year 12 student at the time and Head Boy 2007-2008, and was extremely well received. Music was provided by an onstage T.Rex cover band, consisting of current students, who enthusiastically donnedglam gear for the occasion. In addition, House plays by Years 7-10 occur annually in the Autumn term. A group took part in the English Schools' Shakespeare Festival in 2007 at which an edited version of Julius Caesar was performed at Bradford's Priestley Theatre.Debating
The school has a long history of competitive debating, and after a hiatus of some years, a debating club was set up in late 2006. The school puts forward teams in many events, with some success: in 2007, Ermysted's pupils were placed 3rd out of 24 schools in the 'Great Shakespeare Debate' in
Stratford-upon-Avon , and reached the regional final of theESU Schools Debating Mace.chool Publications
School events of note have, for as long as anyone can remember, been faithfully recorded in the Chronicles of Ermysted's. This publication was formerly produced twice a year, but now appears only once, usually just before Christmas. More recently a group of year 13 students have started a new, entirely student-produced, half-termly magazine called 'Ted', which is now also available online [http://ermysted.freeblogit.com] . It is hoped that in time this will become an institution as well-loved as the Chronicles.
chool Council
In line with recent trends towards giving pupils a say in their education, the school management has set up a school council. Composed of two representatives from each year, the first members were elected in the Summer Term of 2006. Since then there has been strong criticism of the council for its complete lack of power, and failure to live up to any expectations. Members of the council strongly contest this, citing their achievements in providing water fountains in 'the Vendors' (these have since been removed; indeed the rooms themselves have been replaced by offices and no replacement water fountains established) and improving waste paper recycling. They also played a token role in the selection of Mr Ashworth's successor, although the extent of their influence is unknown.
Famous alumni
*
Iain Macleod , MP and formerChancellor of the Exchequer .
*Simon Beaufoy , Writer of Oscar-winning filmThe Full Monty and highly-acclaimedYasmin
*Andrew Hodgson , formerBradford Bulls andSalford City Reds rugby league player.
*Rick Holden , formerMan City player and presentBarnsley FC Assistant Manager
*Paul Zenon , comedian and magician.
*Blake Morrison , poet and author.Trivia
*
John Wesley , the famous Methodist preacher, once applied to become headmaster of Ermysted's - he was rejected.
*Ermysted's Rugby 1st Team recently played at Twickenham, beating Wilmslow High 3-0 to claim the Daily Mail Vase.
*A House Quiz takes place annually in school during which sixteen pupils from each year are chosen to represent their houses.
*Mr Howarth, Head of History, published a book, "A Grammar School At War" in 2007, focusing upon the 54 Old Boys and Masters of the Skipton School who died serving in the armed forces during World War One. Copies are still available at the school and at the "Craven Museum" in the Skipton Town Hall. The profits generated went towards the construction of a commemorative plaque for the fallen Old Boys.
*The father ofutilitarian philosopherHenry Sidgwick , Reverend W. Sidgwick, was headmaster at Ermysteds during the 19th century. However, Henry himself was educated atRugby School .References
External links
* [http://www.ermysteds.n-yorks.sch.uk Ermysted's Grammar School]
* [http://www.ermysteds.org Ermysted's Grammar School Old Boys Society]
* [http://www.egsphysics.co.uk Ermysted's Grammar School Physics Department Site: Physics@egs]
* [http://www.chrisdavey.co.uk/egs/index.html An unofficial virtual tour of the School]
* [http://ermysted.freeblogit.com Ted Online - The Official Blog of The Magazine]
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