Audenshaw School

History

On 29 July 1932, Audenshaw Grammar School for Boys was opened, providing facilities for 300 pupils. "The school officially opened on Saturday July 23rd at 3.00pm when the contractors handed the keys to County Alderman J. T. Travis Clegg DL JP. The school remained open until 7:00pm for inspection by the general public. On September 13th, 1932 seventy six boys walked through the gates of a brand new Grammar School on Hazel Street Audenshaw."

The first Head Master was John Lord, who was in charge until 1953. He was followed by Ronald Porter, who had joined the school from Stretford Grammar School. Kenneth Exley became Headmaster in 1961, having previously been Headmaster at the Creighton School for Boys in Carlisle.

In 1981, Graham Locke OBE succeeded Exley as Head Master. Locke was Head Master until his sudden death in 1994; the school's sports hall is named in his memory. Locke was appointed to the Order of the British Empire for his role for services to education.

Alan Crompton was Head Master from 1994 to 2005, whereupon he retired. Crompton had previously worked at Copley High School. He was widely regarded as one of the most outstanding Head Masters of his generation. When Crompton retired he was succeeded by Stephen Turner, who joined the school having been Head at Golborn High School Wigan - he retired in 2012. The current Head is Jeanette Saw was appointed in June 2013. Previously, Saw had been the school's Associate Headteacher with Richard Andrew. In 1989, Audenshaw became one of the first Grant Maintained (GM) schools in England under the leadership of Locke and the then Chair of Governors T. Hall. The school had faced the threat of a merger and then closure. The LEA attempted to sell the school land but a High Court ruling overturned this action. The school opted out of LEA control in 1988; parents voted for the maintenance – 86% of those eligible voted; 91% of them voting in favour of the school receiving grant maintenance. This followed the Parents Action Group campaign. Mr T Hall was awarded the MBE for services to Education and he remains the Chair of Governors.

In the mid-1960s pupils of Audenshaw Grammar School formed a branch of the Peak Forest Canal Restoration Society. Founding members W. Lear, N. Markham, and W. Morgan began their efforts in the summer of 1965 with the objective of cleaning, restoring and reopening the then derelict Ashton Canal. Successful in their ambitious aim, the canal was eventually reopened on 13 May 1974 by Denis Howel, then Member of Parliament for Birmingham Small Heath and the Minister for Sport.

Audenshaw Grammar School lost its sixth form in the late 1970s due to ‘reorganisation’ within the LEA. However, an adjoining sixth form college was opened in 1997, the same year the school was granted foundation school status but this time it was co-educational rather than single sex. The school also became fully comprehensive in the late 1970s.

In 1999, Audenshaw School won the inaugural – and only – schools' series of Channel 4's daytime quiz show Fifteen to One.

The Queen Mother visited the school in 1959 to present colours to the Manchester Regiment. In 2007, the school celebrated its 75th anniversary with a visit by HRH The Princess Royal who officially opened the Sixth Form extension.

World War II

A number of old boys and a master were killed during active service during World War II. Their names are remembered on the Roll of Honour in the main hall.

Remember with Pride and Gratitude

E T Alwood RN W Bradley RA (a master) L Carr MN H W Cooper RAF T Cusack MN E Davy RAC A B Fawcett RAF E J Hartley RAF J L Harvey MN J Heyworth RAF W Hooper RAF K Howard RAF J Key RAF D J Kilner RAF A E Leach RAF C C Procter RAF D Ryan RAF F T M Sidebotham RAF P S Thomas RAF J D Thornton RAF

Noted alumni