Bradford Grammar School


Bradford Grammar School is a co-educational independent grammar school located in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
Entrance is by examination, except for the sixth form, where admission is based on GCSE results. The school gives means-tested bursaries to help with fees. Unlike many independent schools, BGS does not offer scholarships based on academic achievement.

History

The school was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter by King Charles II in 1662. Until 1975 it was a direct grant grammar school, and when this scheme was abolished it chose to become independent. The school motto is Hoc Age .
The school grounds have been used as a helicopter landing ground by the royal family when they are visiting the local area due to its large fields. The most recent landing was by Prince William, in 2020.

Second World War

The new school building in Frizinghall was actually completed in 1939, however the start of the Second World prevented the building from being opened as a school. During the war, the main school building was used as a Primary Training Centre, and there is still evidence of this around the building. During this time, many BGS pupils were evacuated to Settle, and returned when the building was released from army occupation and completed. Inside the school there is a large memorial to the former pupils who died in the war.

Frizinghall railway station

closed in 1965 and remained closed for 22 years. During this time, staff and pupils at the school campaigned to get the station reopened, as they used it as their main source to school. In the end, it was due to the efforts of an English teacher, Robin Sisson, that the station was reopened.

Faculty

Headmaster, Simon Hinchliffe is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.

Education

In 2013, the pass rate for both GCSE and A-Levels was 99%. 31 courses are offered for A-Levels, and 97% of sixth-form pupils went on to study further education or deferred a year. The standard requirement for entry to the sixth form is nine B grades at GCSE, in 2008 the lower sixth had an average equivalent to ten A grades at GCSE.

Facilities

Over the past 15 years the school has completed a £14 million buildings development programme.
In 2001 the school built a multi-million pound Sixth Form Centre, funded primarily by Roger Evans and by pupil fundraising. Former pupil David Hockney contributed to the funding of the large theatre, where many school productions are performed, adjacent to the sports hall. The school's computing facilities have been updated regularly in the past few years, and the school now has ten IT suites.

Extra-curricular activities

Sport

The school's first sport for boys is rugby union, and for girls it is netball or hockey. Other sports done at the school include squash, tennis, table-tennis, cross-country, swimming, water polo, cricket, and rowing on the River Aire.
The school has an all-weather pitch used for hockey and football as well as nine courts used for netball and tennis. The £1m pavilion, built in 2008, contains changing rooms and space for functions. The school has two squash courts. BGS has four rugby pitches, which in the summer are converted into two cricket grounds. The school has an equipped gym with rowing machines, cycling machines, a treadmill and weights which was modernised in 2011. A 25m swimming pool is used for swimming and water polo training at lunchtimes and evenings. A further junior gym is used for fitness training and PE lessons.

Cadet Force

As an alternative or a supplement to extra-curricular sport, the school maintains a volunteer Combined Cadet Force. In the 1980s, this was reduced to just the Army contingent. However, the RAF section has since been reopened, and pupils now regularly fly and partake in RAF courses. The school owns its own 25-metre shooting range. In later years, the CCF has been regenerated by Squadron leader Dheeraj Bhasin, a former RAF pilot.

Music

Musical groups and clubs that run for pupils include: Senior Orchestra, Junior Orchestra, junior and senior choirs and chamber choirs, Close Harmony Group, Big Band, Concert Band, Samba Band, String Group, Dixieland Crackerjacks, junior and senior saxophone groups, and Soul Band. The Music School is equipped with classrooms, a recording studio, auditorium and 12 private teaching rooms for individual instrument tuition.

Arts

The interior walls of the school are decorated with artwork by pupils and a number of David Hockney's works are on display in public and private areas of the school. The music suite has several practice rooms and holds concerts throughout the year. A musical is staged every two years, in which the drama department works closely with the music department to produce a performance. The Hockney Theatre hosts a programme through the year and a full-time technician manages a student production team to service the performances. Curriculum evenings by the lower school drama groups or the A-Level Theatre Studies groups are placed between plays written specifically for pupils, Shakespeare performances, comedies and musicals.

Annual events

Founders Day is an annual event held at Bradford Cathedral to remember the start of the school and notable characters from its history.

Alumni