Heckmondwike Grammar School

Heckmondwike Grammar School (HGS) is a state selective, coeducational grammar school providing free education, located in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, England. It is a Technology College and, in addition, has recently acquired Language College Specialism. The school has approximately 1250 students aged between 11 and 18 and includes a sixth form. The headmaster of the school is Mr Mark Tweedle, and the current Head Boy and Head Girl are Chris Beck and Sarah McGowan respectively, having succeeded Niall Oddy and Emma New. The school's aims are "to achieve the best possible academic standards and to develop those qualities in our pupils which will make them responsible citizens of the future." The school was founded in 1898, and its colours are brown and gold.Prospective pupils have to pass examinations in non-verbal reasoning and mathematics before entry to the school is allowed.

HGS also has an annexe, formerly a church hall, which is used for physical education, and social sciences as well as being a secure test area.

Houses

The school has four houses, and each student is put into a house. These houses are named after famous people from the West Yorkshire area. The houses are Brontë (whose colour is blue), Clarke (yellow), Houldsworth (green) and Priestley (red).

Forms

There are 5 forms of approximately 30 in every year, one for each house and one additional form with a mixture. They are B for Bronte, C for Clarke, P for Priestley, H for Houldsworth, and S, which is a mixture of all houses. The letter "S" was chosen as Mr Short (who has since left the school) was the first teacher of this new mixed-house form.

GCSE Options

Mathematics, English, English Literature, dual or separate science, a language and ICT are compulsory.

Students now get a choice whether they will go for science-based careers or technical-based careers, with the school taking advantage of the new "DiDA" system. With this, students can either take "Double Science", with two GCSEs, and an entering into the Certificate of Digital Applications (CiDA), worth two GCSEs, but may be able to complete the DiDA (Diploma), which is equivalent to four GCSEs.

Students taking each science as a separate subject, recommended but not compulsory for students wishing to study Science at A-Level, will study for three GCSEs, one each for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. They will have more lesson time to study Sciences, but as a result have less time for other subjects, and will be entered for an ICT Award (AiDA), which is one GCSE. However, pupils who show large improvement may be entered for CiDA.

All students are entered into one technology element. They may choose from:
*Electronics
*Food Technology
*Graphics
*Resistant Materials
*Textiles

All students take one or two Modern Foreign Languages. In year 9 they have a choice of:
*French
*German
*Spanish (this language must be taken alongside one of the above)

Students may also choose to study Latin at a fee through distance learning, but this is only made available to those who have demonstrated exceptional linguistics skills.

As part of the National Curriculum, PE is still taught to pupils through weekly "Games" lessons. These are compulsory and are part of the PSHCE (Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education) programme. Up to Year 9 pupils take both Games and PE and after students have only a weekly Games lesson. The pupils also benefit from weekly PSHCE lessons, called "Skills" lessons. Study of Religious Education is also compulsory at a basic level, for those who do not wish to study to the full GCSE level in this subject.

ixth Form

There are approximately 450 students in the sixth form, entering via the lower school or via neighbouring schools after GCSEs. Each prospective student is interviewed by a member of the senior management team before confirmation of a place or rejection is assured.

Notable Alumni

*John Bentley, Professional Rugby Player
*Barry R. Clarke, International Puzzle Author
*Ruth Diskin, Professor, Lincoln University
*Mike Heaton, Embrace Drummer
*Sam Burgess, plays for Bradford Bulls and Great Britain Rugby League

Ahmed Hassan

Ahmed Hassan was a pupil in the Heckmondwike Grammar School sixth form. He was tragically the victim of an unprovoked attack. On 15 December 2007, Ahmed was mercilessly stabbed by a group of 4 youths, the attack which proved to be fatal. Ahmed was a tragic loss to the school and a model student. He is extremely missed. A special assembly was held on the Monday after the event. A charity fund-raising event previously organised for the day was in doubt but the school decided Ahmed would have wanted the school to carry on the event. Part of the money raised was given to a charity of Ahmed's family's choice. One teacher commented 'If the world was full of Ahmed Hassans it would be a very much better place.' A memorial service was held for all pupils on the last day before the Christmas holiday. Over half the school attended the service by choice. Pupils reflected on their time with Ahmed Hassan and shared their moments and the laughs they had. The service was also attended by Ahmed's family. Ahmed's teachers also gave their thoughts on him, none with a bad word for him. The school is deeply affected by their terrible loss and still now wonder how a model pupil could have been taken from them so cruelly. There is a memorial for him near the Sports Hall. It consists of a Leeds United shirt with his name and the number 1 on and a plaque which says "Ahmed Hassan 1990-2007".

External links

* [http://www.heckgrammar.kirklees.sch.uk Heckmondwike Grammar School's website]