Leeds Modern School

Infobox Secondary school
name =Leeds Modern School

motto = Fortem Posce Animum (Seek a brave spirit - from 'Seek a brave spirit if you would live in Rome')
established =1845
address = The Ring Road, Lawnswood, Leeds
city =Leeds
state = Yorkshire
country =United Kingdom
campus = The Ring Road, Lawnswood
type =State Grammar school
affiliation =
headmaster = Frank 'Cheesy' Holland (48-71)
founder = Mr. S. Twist
faculty =
students = Approx. 700 boys
grades =
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newspaper =
yearbook = The Owlet
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Leeds Modern School in Leeds, West Yorkshire was founded on July 14 1845 by Mr S. Twist in Rossington Street as the "Mathematical and Commercial School". This building in the centre of Leeds became the Leeds Civic Theatre after the school moved to a site at Lawnswood in 1931.

That site was shared with a separate but identical sister school, Lawnswood High School. Boys attended Leeds Modern, Girls Lawnswood. The schools were separated by a joint school's swimming pool and separate dining hall building. Mixing of boys and girls was strictly prohibited but, of course, as fun as today.

The schools were mainly large red-bricked buildings with stone features and seemingly enormous windows. The corridors inside were walled in smooth, robust yet rich-coloured brickwork and laid with oak parquet flooring. The classrooms had the highest of high ceilings, when you're only 11, and accommodated some 30-32 pupils. All was polished and well maintained. Or preserved, in the case of most desks! The main hall, stage at one end and used for assembly, was lined with scholarship boards and immaculately decorated. Achievement through dedication and hard work!

Yet Leeds Modern School was encouragingly progressive. It taught science, arts and humanities. It taught the principles of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and above all, it taught of life. It taught by leadership, by example and by kindness and teachers earned and deserved their pupils' respect.

The school facilities included about 20 permanent classrooms, 2 Arts Rooms, 2 Chemistry Labs, 2 Physics Labs, 2 Lecture Rooms, 1 Biology Lab, 1 Metalwork shop, 1 Woodwork shop, 1 Hall, 1 Library, 1 Music Room, 1 Prefect's room, 1 Headmasters room, 1 Staffroom, 1 Large Office, 1 Gymnasium, 4 Internal cloakrooms, 2 External washrooms, 2 Cycle sheds, 2 Changing rooms & showers, 1 Photographic darkroom.

Entry class 1d of September 1963 comprised 31 pupils:

Appleyard, Armstrong, Auton, Barber, Bates, Bell, Benson, Browning, Cowling, Cox, Dobson, Fraser, Furness, Garnett, Garvey, Hancock (Pete Hancock didn't arrive until September 1965), Hawes, Herrick, Hopkinson, Large, Newill, Rix, Roper, Siviour, Smith CD, Smith PD, Thewlis, Thompson, Whitton, Woodhouse, Wright.

Discipline might have seemed strict by todays standards but the benefits of the stern yet very caring regime phenomenal. Yes, caring! For there was not one teacher who in his or her heart did not love and care for the pupils. Nor were there many pupils who did not appreciate and respect their teachers.

'Daddy' Dennison, our maths teacher, was absent from Sept '64 for a year. He was on holiday with his family, walking along a cliff pathway. His wife, we understand, took her own life over the cliff that holiday. On his return he cared for us as his family and we for him. In his retirement in 1968 we bought a gold cigarette lighter. He cried, we cried. Thank you 'Daddy'!

Rhys Webber taught the beauty of music. There were just five of us in his class at 'O'-level and we were pretty useless. He lamented, he cajoled and without telling him or showing we were better in class, we practiced and practiced. In both the Aural and Oral musical exams we all scored 100%. We all five gained our 'O'-levels. Pupils and teachers shared mutual respect. Thank you Mr. Webber!

In 1963 there was also one teacher who recalled the cricketing career of one of my ancestors, John Thewlis, noted as the first to score a century for the Yorkshire Cricket Club (YCC) in county cricket and whose later plight helped bring about sporting contracts for sportspeople. Thank you he whose name escapes that 45 year gap!

The headmaster between at least 1963 and 1970 was Frank 'Cheesy' Holland. He was also and unflatteringly known as 'Prate' Beyond all, though, he was a kindly and fair man and the most excellent of headteachers that could ever be known. Thank you Mr. Holland!

The deputy head was 'On-ST is the best polly, see!' Mr. Adams. A man whose teacher's love and interest bore only good. Thank you Mr. Adams!

It was the 'Mods' and 'Rockers' period. We were allowed to come to school on motor-cycles and scooters from 16 and by 'special' permission, by car. But priviledges were earned by peace, responsibility and deserved respect.

Amongst other teachers during this period were: Music - Rhys Webber, Mathematics - R. Dennison, Biology - 'Chewy' Mellors, French - I.W.Sewell, English - Mr. Lindstrom, English - Brian Page OBE, Physics - Mr. Burnell, Chemistry - Dr. Fisher (Harpsichordial greetings, Dr. Fisher), Physics & Chemistry - Mr. Hilton and many other so talented individuals they almost became friends of the students. Thank you all!

John Harland was an inspirng young English teacher who introduced us to D.H. Lawrence and Grahame Green. He was typical of the strong liberal ethos of the school which I think has to be put down to Frank Holland's leadership.

The School merged with the girls' grammar school "Lawnswood High School" in 1972 to form the present Lawnswood School.Leeds Modern School/Lawnswood High School, now Lawnswood School, were demolished by the Vogons of Leeds City Council and rebuilt in uninspiring style.

External links

* [http://www.lawnswoodhighschool.com/lhs/LMSHistory.html History of Leeds Modern School]
* [http://www.lawnswood.info/ Lawnswood School website]