Poole Grammar School (commonly abbreviated to PGS) is an 11–18 selective boys

grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a Latin school, school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented Se ...

and

academy An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

in the coastal town of

Poole Poole () is a coastal town and seaport on the south coast of England in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area in Dorset, England. The town is east of Dorchester, Dorset, Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east ...

in Dorset, in the south of England. The school is twinned with Parkstone Grammar School. It is a member of the South West Academic Trust (SWAT). The school was a

mathematics Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

and

computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computer, computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and the development of both computer hardware, hardware and softw ...

school, with an additional specialism, cognition, added in 2006. Poole Grammar School is situated in the north of Poole, on the A349 (known locally as Gravel Hill), in a campus built in 1966, with various additions made since.

History

The Early School

An early Poole Grammar School was built in 1628 by Thomas Robarts, Mayor of Poole. This school taught “Latin grammar and kindred subjects”. The establishment of the free school is commemorated in St James' Church, Poole and saw moderate success in the 18th century, before a decline against “competition from nonconformist academies and the general economic decline of the town,” and eventual closure in 1835.

Poole Technical School

In 1902 the Board of Education approved funding for the construction of Poole Technical and Commercial School, offering “an education of a practical character for boys and girls of twelve years of age and upwards.” On 19 September 1904, following legal disputes between Poole Borough Council, Dorset County Council, and the

Board of Education A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional area, ...

, on the interpretation of the

Education Act 1902 The Education Act 1902 ( 2 Edw. 7. c. 42), also known as the Balfour Act, was a highly controversial act of Parliament that set the pattern of elementary education in England and Wales for four decades. It was brought to Parliament by a Conserva ...

, the establishment of Poole Secondary School was reported by the Poole, Parkstone, and East Dorset Herald. Within its first two months of existence, Poole Secondary School was granted two acres of land at Seldown by Lord Wimborne. The school began in the Poole Free Library, which is now a

Wetherspoons J D Wetherspoon (branded variously as Wetherspoon or Wetherspoons, and colloquially known as Spoons) is a British pub company operating in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The company was founded in 1979 by Tim ...

pub, called the Lord Wimborne. In 1907 the school's original site was built on this land for £6,500, to mixed reaction with some councillors regarding it as “squat”, but the Poole, Parkstone, and East Dorset Herald describing it as “one of the finest buildings in the town.” PGS stayed at the Seldown site until 1966, however the original buildings continued as the Seldown School until their demolition in 1986. At this time, too, the first headmaster, A. J. Mockridge, was appointed, and around this time the current school colours were adopted. In 1909 a pupil of the school, Tim Aitken, participated in the first of Baden Powell's Scout camps on Brownsea Island.

Grammar School Status

“The immediate post war years also saw oole Secondary Schoolbreach one of the last bastions of elite education when, in successive years, the first girl and then the first boy went to Oxford University.” In 1927 Poole Secondary School was elevated to Grammar School status, following The Hadrow Report. The 1930s were considered the school's "golden age", and in 1933 Poole Grammar School had the highest distinctions in French in England (3); two of the seventeen art distinctions awarded that year; and nine in history – "twice as many as any school in England". The school would go on to achieve the highest number of history distinctions in the country for two more successive years. In 1938 Poole Grammar had the highest number of School Certificate passes in the country, with an average pass rate of 87% during the late thirties, when the average grammar school pass rate was 60%. In 1933 the Bournemouth Echo reported a governors meeting at Parkstone Grammar School decided that “Parkstone Grammar School should… become A School for Girls, and Poole Grammar School a School for Boys.” This division was disliked by the then student body, with the debating society passing ‘This House Believes that Co-Education is the Best Education’ by 97 votes to 15. This started the separation of boys and girls which is still in effect today. The two grammar schools have very close links as they are only around half a mile (0.8 km) apart. They share certain social activities, drama performances and a number of sixth form subjects including languages and, until 2022, ancient history.

1945-Present

Following the second world war Poole Grammar School admissions were solely boys who had passed the 11+, with the Education Act 1944 ending fee paying students. In 1960 Poole Grammar School's current location between Broadstone and Canford Heath on the A349 (Gravel Hill) was identified as a countryside site for the much-needed expansion in size of the school. The original Seldown site is now a car park and National Express Coach pick up point. Work began on 30 April 1964 and the buildings were ceremonially opened by Princess Margaret on 11 October 1966. During this period Poole Grammar School was celebrated by the Sunday Times and in the House of Commons as an example of the success of the grammar school system, particularly because of the school's success at Balliol College, Oxford, where it was only beaten in successful applications “by a handful of major public schools.” This success was not insignificant: Twenty-three places between 1950 and 1962. A fire in 1971 caused £5,000 worth of damage to the school. Between 2006 and 2009 the Ashley Thorne Building (named after a former and long serving governor of the school) was built to house the music and drama departments, as well as a new library. The latter has since been converted into Sixth Form study space and the library moved to its previous position in the school. Poole Grammar School - geograph

Overview

Admissions

The school has accepted students from the age of 11 (

Year 7 Year 7 is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is the seventh full year (or eighth in Australia and England) of compulsory education and is roughly equivalent to grade 6 ...

) since 2013 after a large-scale change to the structure of schooling in Poole. Applicants to Year 7 must sit an entrance exam (the 11+) in the autumn term of Year 6 to prove that they are of grammar school standard. The same entrance exam is used by Bournemouth School, Bournemouth School for Girls and Parkstone Grammar School. Poole Grammar School admits 180 students into Year 7 on 1st September of each academic year. Students are placed into one of six tutor groups, each comprising 30 students. Up to 30 external students are admitted each year into Year 12 of the school's Sixth Form.

School Uniform

Poole Grammar School students in Years 7–11 wear a uniform of green blazer, white shirt and dark grey or black trousers. Since the beginning of the academic year commencing September 2024, Sixth Form Students have not needed to wear a uniform, a significant contrast with previous years when smart business attire was required. All students are required to wear coloured lanyards with ID cards which correspond to the year they are in. For physical education (PE) lessons students are expected to wear Joma's green and black PE shirt, along with black shorts (either own or Joma branded), either white or black socks and trainers. Additionally, Joma released a black sports jacket with the school's logo on it and a backpack. For games lessons, the school have released a reversible jersey made of the same material as the PE shirt, but with green and yellow stripes. This can be accompanied with the same attire as the PE shirt, and boys are requested to wear gum shields and shin pads when necessary. When attending science classes or certain design technology classes the boys are expected to bring a white lab coat.

Curriculum subjects

Poole Grammar School students must study GCSEs in either double or triple science (biology, chemistry and physics), English language and literature, mathematics, and religion & philosophy. The school also offers optional GCSEs in art (fine), art (3D design graphics), computer science, design technology, drama, electronics, food technology, geography, history, modern foreign languages ( French and Spanish), music and physical education (PE). Students in Poole Grammar School Sixth Form are expected to study at least three A-levels and an additional qualification. Currently the choice of additional qualification includes the level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), further mathematics at AS or A-level or level 3 core mathematics. A-Levels available at Poole Grammar School Sixth Form include: art (fine), art (3D design graphics), biology, business, chemistry, computer science, design technology, drama, economics, electronics, English language, English literature, French, geography, German, government & politics, history, media studies, music, physics, psychology, philosophy, Spanish and sociology. Some A-level subjects are offered in partnership with Parkstone Grammar School (drama, English language, French, German, media studies, Spanish and sociology). When funding allows, the school is seeking to introduce two further A-level subjects: environmental science and physical education.

Sporting subjects

Sport is a major part of life at Poole Grammar School. The school owns large playing fields adjacent to the main buildings. They are used as

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

and rugby pitches, with two overlapping cricket fields and as a running track during the summer. Students also play sports on the school playground. The two large gyms provide changing facilities, a

climbing wall A climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with manufactured grips (or "holds") for the hands and feet. Most walls are located indoors, and climbing on such walls is often termed indoor climbing. Some walls are brick or wooden constr ...

, indoor

volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

courts and a room for weights and fitness training. The school boasts two astroturf

tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...

courts, installed in 2008 and a multi-use games area (MUGA) was installed in 2010. In 2021 Poole Grammar School was granted £3.8 million from the

UK Government His Majesty's Government, abbreviated to HM Government or otherwise UK Government, is the central government, central executive authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

to build new sports facilities. The new Sports Centre opened in September 2023. The new sports center includes a gymnasium with basketball hoops, cricket nets and various sports equipment in storage, a fully functional rope climbing wall, a well-equipped gym with rowing machines, cycle machines and weightlifting equipment, and 5 state-of-the-art classrooms that are used for various subjects. In 2022 Poole Grammar School's under 15s rugby side reached the finals of the national schools rugby, beating Dr. Challoner's Grammar School 22–12 in the semi-finals, and lost the national final 19–17 to Hill House School, Doncaster at the Saracen's Stadium at

Barnet Copthall Barnet Copthall is a publicly owned sports venue on the Hendon-Mill Hill borders in London, which houses several complexes, including a local authority-owned swimming pool and gymnasium facilities, a golf-driving range with 9 hole pitch and p ...

. Also in 2022 Poole Grammar School's inaugural

croquet Croquet ( or ) is a sport which involves hitting wooden, plastic, or composite balls with a mallet through hoops (often called Wicket, "wickets" in the United States) embedded in a grass playing court. Variations In all forms of croquet, in ...

team beat Canford School. Students partake in many sports throughout the year from football to

. During the winter term, students participate in rugby during their games lessons. During the spring term, they play football. In the summer term, students play a variety of games including

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

, tennis and

softball Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...

. Most of these sports contain an inter-form tournament towards the end of the term. Students competing in

cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and soil, earth, pass through woodlands and ope ...

train on Canford Heath during lunch hour.

People

Headteachers

* Mr. John Dyson Esq. 1904-1906 (Chairman of Governors, no Headmaster yet appointed) * Mr. G. E. Boyer, 1906–7 * Mr. Albert James Mockridge, 1907–1928 * Mr. Archibald Greenfield, 1928–1950 * Mr. Frank H. Stevens, 1950–1954 * Mr. John Cleave, 1954-1972 (after whom the school theatre is named) * Mr. Nigel Gilpin, 1973-1990 (to whom the school's main hall is dedicated) * Mr. Haydn Adams, 1990 * Mr. John Wheway, 1990 * Mr. Alex Clarke, 1990–2004 * Mr. Ian Carter, 2004–2014 * Mr. Andy Baker, 2014-2020 * Dr. Amanda Smith, 2020–2024 * Mrs. Katie Etheridge, 2024-present

Senior Leadership Team

* Mrs K Etheridge - Headteacher * Mr S R Jenkins - Deputy Headteacher * Mr N C Chase - Assistant Headteacher * Mr E C Gibbs - Assistant Headteacher * Miss F F Gollan - Assistant Headteacher * Mr P G Ingleby - Assistant Headteacher (Director of Sixth Form) * Mr S R Llewelyn - Assistant Headteacher * Mrs K Hewitt - School Business Manager

Notable Alumni

* Nick Aplin, a Senior Lecturer at the

National Institute of Education The National Institute of Education (NIE) is an autonomous institute of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Ranked 10th in the world and 2nd in Asia by the QS World University Rankings in the subject of Education and Trainin ...

(NIE). *

Edgar F. Codd Edgar Frank "Ted" Codd (19 August 1923 – 18 April 2003) was a British computer scientist who, while working for IBM, invented the relational model for database management, the theoretical basis for relational databases and relational database ...

, invented

relational database A relational database (RDB) is a database based on the relational model of data, as proposed by E. F. Codd in 1970. A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) is a type of database management system that stores data in a structured for ...

s when at IBM's San Jose Research Laboratory in California * Jim Cregan, musician * Michael Joseph Crumpton FRS was Director of Research (Laboratories) for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories (now part of

Cancer Research UK Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is the world's largest independent cancer research organisation. It is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man, and was formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and t ...

) * Prof Ronald P. Dore CBE * John Finnemore, writer and actor * Ant Henson, British singer-songwriter * Paul Higham, cricketer * Dave Lanning, sports commentator * Richard Oakes, guitarist for the band Suede * Harry Cornick, footballer with

Luton Town Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...

* Josh Carmichael, footballer with Weymouth * Piers Copeland, Professional Athlete * Jacob Peters, Professional Swimmer

References

External links

Poole Grammar School WebsiteOld Grammarians Website
* https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/15844168.gallery-110-pictures-poole-grammar-school-years/ (For images of the school) {{authority control Schools in Poole Grammar schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Educational institutions established in 1904 Academies in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Boys' schools in Dorset 1904 establishments in England