Heckmondwike Grammar School

The school was built by Thomas Redfearn and Samuel Wood, who lived on Eldon Street, and opened on 17 January 1898. Further north in Cleckheaton was Whitcliffe Mount Grammar School, now Whitcliffe Mount School.

HGS was a foundation school, but became an academy in September 2010.

On 18 January 2011, the Crellin Building was officially opened by Prince Edward, with Ingrid Roscoe and the Mayor of Kirklees.

In December 2018, the headteacher, Nathan Bulley, quit following allegations of mismanagement.[5]

HGS is a Technology College and, in addition, has recently acquired Language College specialism. The school has approximately 1,500 pupils aged between 11 and 18 and includes a sixth form.

Prospective pupils pass examinations in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics before entry to the school. After testing, 180 pupils are accepted.

HGS annexe, formerly a church hall, which was previously used for physical education and social sciences was reopened in 2019 as the Jo Cox Sixth Form Centre, in memory of the late MP and former Head Girl of the School.[6]

Rear of the school

Heckmondwike Grammar School follows the England, Wales and Northern Ireland National Curriculum.

In 2010 and 2013/2014 the school was ranked the 5th best-performing school in England for GCSE results.[7] and is regularly among the top 100 state schools in the country.[8][9]

• 1897–1924 — R S Cahill
• 1924–1948 — Lt-Col Harold Edwards DSO MC
• 1948–1952 — E G Bennett
• 1952–1956 — E J S Kyte
• 1956–1970 — Kenneth Ford, Quaker and Second World War conscientious objector who joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit
• 1970–1989 — T C Riddles
• 1989–1990 — J K Wilson (acting head)
• 1990–2010 — Mark Crellin Tweedle
• 2010–2016 — Mike Cook[10]
• 2016–2018 — Nathan Bulley[11]
• 2019–Present — Peter Roberts [1]

• John Bentley, English rugby union and rugby league footballer
• Tracy Brabin, actress, television writer and Labour Party MP for Batley and Spen 2016–Current [12]
• Luke Burgess, older brother of Sam, also a professional rugby league footballer for South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Sam Burgess, rugby league player for South Sydney Rabbitohs.[13]
• Roger Burnley (born 1966), CEO of Asda[14]
• Jo Cox, former Labour MP for Batley and Spen 2015–16 [15]
• Prof John Fozard, took over from Ralph Hooper as the Chief Designer from 1965 to 1978 of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier
• Emily Freeman, 100m and 200m runner, in the British 2008 Olympic 4 × 100 m relay team and the 100m runner in the 2009 European Team Championships
• Andrew Gale, professional cricketer and current Yorkshire County Cricket Club captain
• Sir Basil Houldsworth, 2nd Baronet (Hubert's son)
• Sir Hubert Houldsworth, 1st Baronet, chairman of the National Coal Board from 1951 until his death in 1956
• Michael McGowan, Labour MEP from 1984 to 1999 for Leeds
• Frederick Campion Steward FRS, Charles A. Alexander Professor of Biological Sciences from 1965 to 1972 at Cornell University

• Official website