Leeds Grammar School
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Leeds Grammar School (LGS) was founded in 1552 by Sir William Sheafield to provide free, subsidised or fee-paying education, according to need. In contemporary times, LGS is an independent fee-paying school, (in the UK also known, confusingly, as a Public School), and is a member of the Governing Bodies Association and of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
History
The school has been sited at a number of locations in Leeds:
- Its original location is thought to have been The Calls, by the River Aire, near the centre of the city.
- In 1624, John Harrison, a great Leeds benefactor, moved the school "to a pleasant Field of his own which he surrouded with a substantial Wall and in the midst of the Quadrangle built the present Fabrick of the school"
- The school was moved to a site on Woodhouse Moor in 1859. This site was subsequently sold to the University of Leeds.
- Most recently, in 1997, LGS moved to a purpose-built campus at Alwoodley Gates.
- The school will merge with Leeds Girls' High School in 2007.
Noted alumni
- Sir Stephen Brown KCVO - Group Chief Executive of British Trade International, former ambassador
- Barry Cryer - Comedian and comedy writer
- Alan Davidson - author, diplomat, foodie.
- Lord "Jack" Diamond (John Diamond) sometime leader of the SDP in the House of Lords.
- Tony Harrison (b.1937 - ) - Poet
- Sir John Hawkshaw - Engineer (railways, canals, tunnels)
- George Henderson (b.1854 d.1903) - British soldier and military author most famous for his work regarding the American Civil War and Thomas J. Jackson
- John Ireland Composer
- Gerald Kaufman - Member of Parliament
- Reverend Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy (Woodbine Willy) - priest and counsellor in World War 1
- Colin Montgomerie (attended circa 1980-1982) - Golf Professional
- Richard Peacock - Engineer; railway locomotive designer.
- John Smeaton (b.1724 d.1794) - civil and mechanical engineer famous for building the third Eddystone Lighthouse, and for many other engineering projects.
- Godfrey Talbot - war-time BBC correspondent; later the BBC's first officially-accredited royal correspondent.
- Nigel Waterson - Member of Parliament for Eastbourne
- The Kaiser Chiefs - A popular band in the UK and becoming popular in the US.
External links
- Leeds Grammar School website (http://www.leedsgrammar.com/)
- GCSE and Value Added statistics (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/dfe1x1_04.pl?Code=&No=383&Type=&Reg=&Mode=Z&School=3836112&back=) from the Department for Education and Skills
- 16+ statistics (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/dfe2x1_04.pl?Code=&No=383&Type=&Mode=Z&Lsc=13&School=3836112&back=) from DfES
- Independent Schools Council (http://www.isc.co.uk/index.php/40/639) listing for LGS, providing concise details of subjects taught, facilities &c.