Bradford Grammar School


Bradford Grammar School is a co-educational private day school located in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
Entrance is by examination. Sixth form admission is based on GCSE results. The school gives means-tested bursaries to help with fees. Like many other independent schools, BGS also offers a small number of scholarships based on academic achievement.
WWW bradfordgrammar.com

History

The school was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter by King Charles II in 1662. The Reverend William Hulton Keeling became the headmaster in 1871. He had transformed the grammar school in Northampton, and here he did the same, joining forces with the merchant Jacob Behrens, Bradford Observer editor William Byles and Vincent William Ryan Vicar of Bradford. The school was considered as good as the best public schools in 1895 and Keeling died in 1916 having been given the Freedom of the City. His daughter Dorothy Keeling ran The Bradford Guild of Help and transformed voluntary work in the UK.
Until 1975 it was a direct grant grammar school, and when this scheme was abolished it chose to become independent. The school motto is .

Second World War

The new school building in Frizinghall was actually completed in 1939, however the start of the Second World War 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

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. In the end, it was due to the efforts of an English teacher, Robin Sisson, that the station was reopened as a halt.

Education

31 courses are offered for A-Levels, and 97% of sixth-form pupils went on to study further education or deferred a year.

Sport

The school has a rowing club, which is affiliated to British Rowing, with a boat code of BRG.

Alumni