Kirkham Grammar School

Infobox School2
name = Kirkham Grammar School


motto = "Ingredere Ut Proficias"
established = 1549
type = Public School
head_name = Headmaster
head = Mr. Douglas Walker M.A.(Cantab.)
city = Kirkham
state = Lancashire
country = England

Kirkham Grammar School is an independent school in Kirkham, Lancashire, England (gbmapping|SD415320). It was founded in 1549. Its roots can be traced back to the chantry school attached to St Michael's Church, Kirkham in the 13th century. The school remained in the church grounds until it moved to occupy its present site on Ribby Road in 1911. The front range of the school and the headmaster's house constitute a Grade II listed building.cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=183604 |title=Images of England: Grammar school and headmaster's house |accessdate=2008-03-02 |publisher=English Heritage ]

chool history

In 1585 the "Thirty Men of Kirkham", a group which administered parish business, took control of the school. It appears that they did not always perform their duties particularly well, for, by the early part of the seventeenth century, the school had fallen into disrepair and had been without a master for seven years. Isabell Birley, a humble alehouse keeper, came to the rescue in 1621, presenting the Thirty Men of Kirkham with £30 in her apron for the restoration of the school.

In 1655 Henry Colburn, an old boy of the school, left money and land to the school in his will, putting it in the trust of the Worshipful Company of Drapers in London. Then began a long partnership between the Company and the School, which has continued to the present day, though the Drapers surrendered control of the school in 1944, having endowed it with large and impressive extensions in 1938.

The present school building was built between 1909 and 1911 when the front range and the headmaster's house were constructed to a design by the architect F. H. Greenaway of London. Independent status ceased temporarily in 1944 when the school became a voluntary-aided boys’ grammar school. A further major extension, the Norwood Science Building was opened in 1965 and subsequently extended. In 1979 the Board of Governors took the decision to revert to independent status and Kirkham Grammar School became a co-educational school for the first time.

The last decade of the twentieth century witnessed a remarkable growth in the school’s popularity and standing, exhibited by a rise in pupil numbers from 500 to 900 and a programme of continuous development. The school’s partnership with BAE Systems, first established in 1994, became a major driving force behind its success.Fact|date=February 2008

The school has applied to host a Pre-Games Olympic Training Camp before the 2012 Summer Olympics, which are to be held in London.

chool Crest

The grant of armorial bearings was bestowed on Kirkham Grammar School in the late 1920’s in recognition of the honour due to one of Lancashire’s most historic foundations. The design of its coat of arms expresses the true meaning and purpose of the school.

On the shield are the doves of Kirkham township, together with the triple coronets of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, symbolic in turn of the ties which bind the school and town together and of the benefactors who, from its early days, have watched over the interests of the school. The crest also contains a windmill resting on a book, an emblem of scholarship deriving its inspiration from the old industrious spirit of the Fylde. The School’s old motto, "Ingredere Ut Proficias", literally translated means "Enter in order to profit".

Development

The school is with the full support of its Governing Body continuing its intensive development programme. The school celebrated its 450th anniversary in 1999 and has undertaken a major development programme with phase one, a science laboratories and classroom project, being completed in November 2005.cite news
last = Thomas
first = Cherry
title = £1.5m classrooms nearing completion
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-12-27
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/kirkham-and-rural/15m-clasrooms-nearing-completion.3614710.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] The second phase, a new £1.5M extension project, was launched in May 2007 to give the school extra facilities with twelve new classrooms.cite news
title = Kirkham school takes part in national event
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-06-18
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/kirkham-and-rural/Kirkham-school-takes-part-in.2961648.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] The classrooms, with full Information technology (IT) multimedia teaching aids and access to laptops with wireless Internet facilities, opened in December. A time capsule was buried in the foundations.

In January 2007, the new "Lawrence House Pavilion" was officially opened with a performance of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. The pavilion houses a drama studio, changing rooms, kitchen and a lounge area Funded by the "Lawrence House Trust", together with the "Katie Caine Trust", after which the studio was named and also "The Friends of Kirkham Grammar", the pavilion cost £220,000.cite news
last = Butler
first = Heather
title = Kirkham school's drama boost
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-02-01
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/fylde-news/Kirkham-school39s-drama-boost.2014807.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]

In October 2007 the school's sports pitch was relaid with all weather AstroTurf, and with floodlights it is also used by local community partners for sports such as hockey and football. The old pitch was recycled with part of it being used to make new pathways for North Shore Golf Club in Blackpool.cite news
last = Thomas
first = Cherry
title = School's new pitch is a truly green venture
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-11-15
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/kirkham-and-rural/School39s-new-pitch-is-a.3483337.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]

Boarding House

The Boarding House accommodates 75 boarders, all between the ages of 11 and 18, including both full boarders and weekly boarders. The House is also extensively used by day pupils for casual or short stay boarding. Resident staff include the Boarding House Master, the Matron and Assistant Matron and two other members of the academic staff who live in. In order to maintain the highest standards, the Boarding House is inspected annually by external agencies.

Junior School

Kirkham Grammar Junior School, founded in 1991, is situated opposite the senior school on Ribby Road. As well as enjoying its own state of the art facilities within the junior school site, the Junior School also has access to senior school facilities. There are nearly 280 school children in the junior school aged between four to eleven.

Nursery School

The Nursery School is a purpose built, state of the art, "pre-school" which adjoins the Junior School. It was opened in September 2003cite web
title = Pre-School
publisher = Kirkham Grammar School
url = http://www.kirkhamgrammar.co.uk/preschool/
accessdate = 2008-02-17] at a cost of £250,000.cite news
title = Tots to teens at school
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2003-03-12
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Tots-to-teens-at-school.292306.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]

chool Societies

There are a number of clubs and societies active within the school.

The Law Society

The Law Society at the school was founded in January 2007.The first meetings were initially held in the Sandhurst building. The society has about thirty members from the first to third year. The first Mock Trial was held in October 2007. Two more trials have followed, the third was held on 8 February, 2008.

Notable alumni

* Sir Ian Byatt (1932-) - economist
* Ralph Copeland (1837 - 1905), astronomer
* Eric Laithwaite (1921 – 1997), engineer
* Pat Sanderson (1977-) - rugby playercite web | url=http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=15720 | title=Richard Wigglesworth England Profile | accessdate=2008-02-10 | work=England Rugby official website | date=2008-01-21]
* Alex Sanderson (1979-) - rugby player
* Ranvir Singh - Television presentercite news
last = Ettridge
first = Lisa
title = Former Fylde schoolgirl lands BBC job
publisher = Blackpool Gazette
date = 2007-09-06
url = http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Former-Fylde-schoolgirl-lands-BBC.3177891.jp
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]
* Richard Wigglesworth - rugby player
* Johnnie Brannigan - Professional wrestler

References

External links

* [http://www.kirkhamgrammar.co.uk/ Official school website]

Lancashire Schools