Established 1588 Chair of Governors John Bennett Founded 1588 Founders John Blanche, John Gamlyn | Headmaster Steven Wilkinson DfE number 925/4603 Headquarters Spalding, United Kingdom | |
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Type Grammar school;
Academy Location Priory Road
Spalding
Lincolnshire
PE11 2XH
England Profiles | ||
Spalding Grammar School (SGS), fully known as The Queen Elizabeth Royal Free Grammar School Spalding, is a boys' grammar school located on Priory Road in Spalding, Lincolnshire, England, for pupils aged 11 to 18. In December 2011, the school was granted an "Outstanding" rating from Ofsted. The school converted to academy status on 1 February 2013.
Contents
History
It was founded in 1588 by Royal Charter, applied for by Mr Johnson, and located within part of Spalding Parish Church, called St Thomas's Chapel, until the 19th century. It was founded on its current site in 1881.
Merger with Moulton Grammar School
In 1939, the school doubled in size, having amalgamated with Moulton Grammar School in Moulton. Sir John Gleed was Chairman of the Governors from 1928-46.
Moulton Grammar School was founded under the will of John Harrox (died 1561) who was a steward to Sir John Harrington of Weston. The School opened in 1562 with ten pupils and continued to educate boys from the district until it amalgamated with Spalding. The old school buildings still exist but are now private residences.
New buildings
A large sports hall was opened by boxer Henry Cooper in November 1993, and in January 2006 new buildings were opened for ICT, sociology, technology, English and drama (with a performing arts studio). The Modern Languages lab was also built at the same time as the new buildings were opened. In late 2009, a new Business Studies block, new staff room and atrium were also built.
Publications
It has a school magazine called The Bentleian; copies dating back to July 1922 are in the school library.
Admissions and current state
In years seven to eleven, only boys are admitted, but the sixth form accepts girls as well. Spalding Grammar is a selective school, and its entrants in the lower school are permitted only by taking the county-wide 11+ tests.
The headteacher is Steven Wilkinson. The current number of pupils is 985. The sixth form has 277 pupils. There are 68 teaching staff.
Specialist and academy status
In 2006, the school was granted Specialist Status as a Languages and Engineering College. It became the first school in Lincolnshire to gain joint specialist status in these subjects. Accompanying the specialist status was building work to improve general aspects of the school, and to provide a Language Lab and Engineering Lab for the teaching of the subjects. The school converted to academy status on 1 February 2013.
Location
The school is located in the south of Lincolnshire in the town of Spalding on Priory Road. The school is obliged to accept pupils from the council district of South Holland - an area of 500 square miles (1,300 km2) - meaning some pupils travel over 20 miles (32 km) to reach the school.
Notable former pupils
Moulton Grammar School
The Grammar School in Moulton was founded under the will of John Harrox (died 1561) who was steward to Sir John Harrington of Weston. The School opened in 1562 with ten pupils and continued to educate boys until it amalgamated with Spalding in 1939.