Leeds Grammar School was an independent school founded 1552 in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popul ...

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exi ...

, England. Originally a male-only school, in August 2005 it merged with

Leeds Girls' High School Leeds Girls' High School (LGHS) was an independent, selective, fee-paying school for girls aged 3–18 founded in 1876 in Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It merged with Leeds Grammar School in 2005 to form The Grammar School at Le ...

to form The

Grammar School at Leeds The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is an independent fee-charging school in Leeds, England, created on 4 August 2005 by the merger of Leeds Grammar School (founded ) and Leeds Girls' High School (co-founded in 1876 by Frances Lupton). The sc ...

. The two schools physically united in September 2008. The school was founded in 1552 by William Sheafield to provide free, subsidised or fee-paying education to the children of the City of Leeds. Despite 1552 being the traditional date for the foundation of the school, there is some evidence to suggest that the school existed as early as 1341. In 1805, the school was the subject of a ruling by Lord Eldon that set a precedent affecting

grammar schools A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school, ...

throughout England.

History

Leeds Grammar School was founded in 1552, following the death of the Reverend William Sheafield in July of that year. Sheafield left £14 13s. 4d. in his will to maintain a schoolmaster "to teach and instruct freely for ever all such Younge Schollars Youthes and Children as shall come and resort to him from time to time to be taught instructed and informed", provided that a school house was built by the town of Leeds. The date for the school's foundation remains in doubt. Records indicate that there was a

grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...

in Leeds as early as 1341. The school's first site is thought to have been in The Calls, by the

River Aire The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire, England, in length. The ''Handbook for Leeds and Airedale'' (1890) notes that the distance from Malham to Howden is direct, but the river's meanderings extend that to . Between Malham Tarn and Ai ...

, near the centre of the city. By about 1579 the school was in the New Chapel building at the head of Headingley Lane, where it remained until 1624. That year

John Harrison John Harrison ( – 24 March 1776) was a self-educated English carpenter and clockmaker who invented the marine chronometer, a long-sought-after device for solving the problem of calculating longitude while at sea. Harrison's solution revo ...

, a great Leeds benefactor, removed the school "to a pleasant Field of his own which he surrounded with a substantial Wall and in the midst of the Quadrangle built the present Fabrick of the school". Harrison's school was on North Lane, on the site of the Grand Theatre opposite St John's Church. Through the years, the school grew steadily in numbers and reputation. Harrison's building was added onto in the 1640s by a new library, thanks to the endowment of Godfrey Lawson (Mayor of Leeds, 1669–70). The Lawson Library remains with the school (although it has moved to a number of different physical locations) making it the oldest library in Leeds. It was refurbished in 2007. Towards the end of the 18th century, demand for Latin and Greek was falling, while Leeds was growing as a centre of commerce and industry. In 1791 the trustees proposed to appoint a third master, to teach writing and accounts, and a fourth to teach French and other modern languages. The plan was opposed by the master and usher. With the two sides unable to agree, a suit in the

Court of Chancery The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid a slow pace of change and possible harshness (or "inequity") of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equ ...

began in 1795. In 1805, Lord Eldon, the

Lord Chancellor The lord chancellor, formally the lord high chancellor of Great Britain, is the highest-ranking traditional minister among the Great Officers of State in Scotland and England in the United Kingdom, nominally outranking the prime minister. Th ...

, in a ruling that set a precedent for grammar schools across the country, proclaimed, "There is no authority for thus changing the nature of the Charity, and filling a School intended for the purpose of teaching Greek and Latin with Scholars learning the German and French languages, mathematics, and anything except Greek and Latin." He offered as a compromise that other subjects might be taught, as long as all boys also learnt the classical languages. On the death of the master in 1815, the trustees appointed one of their number as acting master, and effected the desired changes. Leeds Grammar School

By 1857, Leeds was growing prodigiously during the

Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, that occurred during the period from around 1760 to about 1820–1840. This transition included going f ...

. The city conditions were dirty and Harrison's buildings inadequate for a Victorian education. In 1857 the decision was made by Rev. Alfred Barry (Headmaster) to move the school to new premises next to

Woodhouse Moor Woodhouse Moor is an open space approximately one mile (1.6 km) from Leeds city centre, West Yorkshire, England. Today it consists of 3 parts: a formal park, Woodhouse Moor (often referred to as Hyde Park - see below), of around 26 hectares ...

. The building, in

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

style, opened in June 1859. The building was designed by

Edward Middleton Barry Edward Middleton Barry RA (7 June 1830 – 27 January 1880) was an English architect of the 19th century. Biography Edward Barry was the third son of Sir Charles Barry, born in his father's house, 27 Foley Place, London. In infancy he was ...

, brother of the headmaster, Rev. Alfred Barry, after whom one of the eight houses was named. At that time the school roll numbered fewer than 100 boys and the buildings were planned for 200. Serious consideration was given in the 1920s to moving the school to

Lawnswood Lawnswood is a small suburb in the north west of the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. As such it is north north east of the West Yorkshire Urban Area. The suburb falls within the Adel and Wharefdale Ward of the City of Leeds Council. ...

– the current site of

Leeds University , mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased , established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds , t ...

's playing fields. Leeds Grammar School plaque 25 July 2017

The school was in the

direct grant A direct grant grammar school was a type of selective secondary school in the United Kingdom that existed between 1945 and 1976. One quarter of the places in these schools were directly funded by central government, while the remainder attracted ...

scheme in the 1950s to 1970s, and the

assisted places The Assisted Places Scheme was established in the UK by the Conservative government in 1980. Children who were eligible were provided with free or subsidised places to fee-charging independent schools - based on the child's results in the school ...

scheme in the 1970s to 1990s. Throughout the 20th century the school continued to expand, with the building of a

swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

, sports hall,

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perfor ...

, a design and technology department, assembly hall and classroom block. By the 1990s, the roll had risen to over 1,100 boys and the school operated on three separate sites. Despite continuous improvements to accommodate increased numbers and the requirements of a contemporary curriculum, no further development of the facilities was economically viable without great detriment to the education of the pupils. The area of Leeds surrounding the school, Hyde Park, was in decline and the

University of Leeds , mottoeng = And knowledge will be increased , established = 1831 – Leeds School of Medicine1874 – Yorkshire College of Science1884 - Yorkshire College1887 – affiliated to the federal Victoria University1904 – University of Leeds , ...

was also seeking to expand and so the decision was taken by the school governors and the university to exchange the Woodhouse Moor, Junior School and Lawnswood premises for a university-owned site in

Alwoodley Alwoodley is a civil parish and suburb of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. It is north of central Leeds and is one of the most affluent areas of the city. Alwoodley lies in Leeds 17 which was reported to contain the most expensive housing ar ...

to the north of Leeds. The Woodhouse Moor premises are now occupied by

Leeds University Business School Leeds University Business School is a business school in the University of Leeds, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The school is accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. Location Leeds University Business School is housed in several buildings ...

In September 1997, at a cost of £18.5 million and after three years construction, Leeds Grammar School opened in Alwoodley Gates. In 1999 a new Headmaster Dr Mark Bailey was appointed. Following the shrinking of Leeds' child population, staff shortages and

's need for more adequate modern buildings the decision was taken to merge with

in 2003. The school passed out of existence on 4 July 2008, although it had been legally dissolved since August 2005.

Houses

Leeds Grammar School has eight

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air cond ...

s, named after individuals connected with the school or its formation. This system dates back to 1924, with the original school houses being Clarell, Sheafield, Neville and Thoresby. Currently there are eight houses: *Barry – after Rev.

Alfred Barry Alfred Barry (15 January 18261 April 1910) was the third Bishop of Sydney serving 1884–1889. Over the course of his career, Barry served as headmaster of independent schools, Principal of King's College London university and founded Angli ...

, PhD, who planned the move of Leeds Grammar School to its site in Woodhouse Moor, which it occupied between 1859 and 1997. *Clarell – after Thomas Clarell, Vicar of Leeds from 1430 to 1469, and founder of the Clarell Chantry, in which was employed William Sheafield as chantry priest. *Ermystead – after William Ermystead, who paid for the construction of the Lady Lane site in the 1590s. *Harrison – after

, benefactor of Leeds, who built the school its third site on North Street. *Lawson – after Godfrey Lawson, Mayor of Leeds, who endowed to the school the Lawson Library – the oldest library in Leeds. *Nevile – for Sir John Nevil of Birstall- one of the first trustees of the school. *Sheafield – after William Sheafield, who is traditionally thought of as the founder of the school in 1552, by virtue of the date of signature of his will, which endowed the school. *Thoresby – after Ralph Thoresby, topographer of Leeds and

alumnus Alumni (singular: alumnus (masculine) or alumna (feminine)) are former students of a school, college, or university who have either attended or graduated in some fashion from the institution. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for grou ...

of the school. There are many competitions throughout the school year, the most notable of these being Sports day and House music. Any house activity, be it a win or a draw, results in the acquiring of House Points. All eight houses compete throughout the year for the coveted Bailey Cup – awarded at the end of the year for the house with the most House Points. Following the merger with

Leeds Girls High School Leeds Girls' High School (LGHS) was an independent, selective, fee-paying school for girls aged 3–18 founded in 1876 in Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It merged with Leeds Grammar School in 2005 to form The Grammar School at ...

four of these houses (Thoresby, Neville, Clarell and Barry) were removed. Four houses have been created from alumnae important to

(Eddison, Ford, Lupton and Powell) thereby maintaining the current eight-house system at GSAL.

Merger with Leeds Girls' High School

The school administration merged with

in August 2005, and the two schools physically merged in September 2008. At that time the Senior School (ages 11–18) and Junior School (ages 7–11) will remain at their present

Site. The Infant School will move to the former LGHS site at Headingley alongside a new

Nursery School A preschool, also known as nursery school, pre-primary school, or play school or creche, is an educational establishment or learning space offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory education at primary schoo ...

. The merged school will be called The

. The main Senior School site of Leeds Girls' High School will be sold to a private developer. Classes for girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 16 will remain segregated, but all extracurricular activities will be mixed. The merger of the two schools has caused some controversy due to the expected increase in traffic levels at the Alwoodley site.

Leodiensian

Leodiensian is the name given to the school magazine of Leeds Grammar School; the first edition was published in October 1827, and it became a regular annual publication from 1882, making it one of the longest-running school publications. The name Leodiensian is derived from the Latin name for Leeds, Ledesia (and later Leodis), and in an adjectival form can be seen in the School Song, in the phrase "Leodenses cuncti".

Old Leodiensian

A former pupil of Leeds Grammar School is described as an Old Leodiensian. In popular culture, ''Old Leodiensian'' features in the

Kaiser Chiefs Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 2000 as Parva, releasing one studio album, ''22'', in 2003, before renaming and establishing themselves in their current name that same year. Since their formation the band h ...

' song "I Predict a Riot": "''Would never have happened to Smeaton, an old Leodiensian''" The line features

John Smeaton John Smeaton (8 June 1724 – 28 October 1792) was a British civil engineer responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbours and lighthouses. He was also a capable mechanical engineer and an eminent physicist. Smeaton was the fi ...

a famous pupil of the school, and was written by the Kaiser Chiefs' lead singer Ricky Wilson who is himself an Old Leodiensian.

Headmasters

Notable alumni

Alumni from Leeds Grammar School are called "Old Leodiensians" or "Old Leo's". Notable Old Leo's include: *

Thomas Adam Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

(1701–1784) –

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Brit ...

clergyman and religious writer. * Thomas T Adamson-Coumbousis – Channel 4 News, TV Reporter/Producer *

Thomas Barnard Thomas Barnard (–1806) was an Anglican clergyman who served in the Church of Ireland as Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora (1780–1794) and Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe (1794–1806). Born in 1726 or 1728, he was the eldest son of ...

, clergyman * Arthur Bayldon, poet * Beau (b. 1946) – folk singer (Trevor Midgley) * Irwin Bellow, Baron Bellwin (1923–2001) – Conservative minister * Gordon Benson (b. 1994) – triathlete for Great Britain * John Berkenhout M.D. (1726–91) – English

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

, naturalist and miscellaneous writer *

Tim Birkhead Timothy Robert Birkhead One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from the royalsociety.org website where: (born 1950) is a British ornithologist. He has been Professor of Behaviour and Evolution at the University of Sheffield ...

FRS (b. 1950) professor of behaviour and evolution *

Robin Blaze Robin Blaze (born 1971 in Manchester) is an English countertenor. Early life The son of Peter Blaze, a professional golfer, and Christine, Blaze and his brother Mark grew up in Shadwell, near Leeds, and was educated at Leeds Grammar School, ...

–

countertenor A countertenor (also contra tenor) is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto or mezzo-soprano voice types, generally extending from around G3 to D5 or E5, although a sopranist ...

* Jon Blundy FRS (b. 1961) – geologist, Professor of Petrology at

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

Richard Boon James Richard Boon (born 6 July 1953) is the former manager of Buzzcocks and boss of the record label, New Hormones. Boon, a Leeds Grammar School friend of Howard Devoto, became the manager for seminal punk group Buzzcocks by default, after o ...

, manager of

Buzzcocks Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton, England in 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto. They are regarded as a seminal influence on the Manchester music scene, the indepen ...

and the New Hormones record label *

Albert Braithwaite Sir Albert Newby Braithwaite (2 September 1893 – 20 October 1959) was a British Conservative Party politician. He was the son of Albert Braithwaite, one time Lord Mayor of Leeds, and Patti Braithwaite. He was born in Horsforth, Yorkshire, ...

, Conservative M.P. *

William Henry Brookfield William Henry Brookfield (31 August 1809 – 12 July 1874) was an Anglican priest, Inspector of Schools, and chaplain-in-ordinary to Queen Victoria.. His son was the playwright Charles Brookfield. Biography William Henry Brookfield was the ...

(1809–74) – Inspector of Schools, and chaplain-in-ordinary to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previ ...

. * William Arthur Brown (b. 1945) – Master of

Darwin College, Cambridge Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded on 28 July 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after one of th ...

* Jeff Christie Pop singer Yellow River 1970 No.1 in the Charts * Charles West Cope (1811–1890) Victorian era painter of genre and history scenes * Keith Cox (1933–1998) geologist and academic at the University of Oxford *

Robert Crosthwaite Robert Jarratt Crosthwaite (13 October 1837, Wellington, Somerset9 September 1925, Bolton Percy) was the inaugural Bishop of Beverley in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born in Wellington, Somerset, on 13 October 1837, Robert ...

(1837–1925) inaugural

Bishop of Beverley The Bishop of Beverley is a Church of England suffragan bishop. The title takes its name after the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The suffragan bishop was originally to assist the Archbishop of York in overseeing ...

Geoffrey Crowther, Baron Crowther Geoffrey Crowther, Baron Crowther Kt. (13 May 1907 – 5 February 1972) was a British economist, journalist, educationalist and businessman. He was editor of '' The Economist'' from 1938 to 1956.His major works include 'Economics for Democrats'( ...

(1907–1972) – economist, editor of

The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Eco ...

Barry Cryer Barry Charles Cryer (23 March 1935 – 25 January 2022) was an English writer, comedian, and actor. As well as performing on stage, radio and television, Cryer wrote for many performers including Dave Allen, Stanley Baxter, Jack Benny, Rory ...

– Comedian and comedy writer * Alan Davidson – author, diplomat, food writer * Sir Thomas Dennison, Judge of King's Bench *

Howard Devoto Howard Devoto (born Howard Andrew Trafford, 15 March 1952) is a retired English singer and songwriter, who began his career as the frontman for punk rock band Buzzcocks, but then left to form Magazine, one of the first post-punk bands. After Ma ...

– Ex-lead singer of

Magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

and Luxuria * Lord "Jack" Diamond ( John Diamond) (1907–2004) – Politician, Member of parliament, and leader of the

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties For ...

in the House of Lords * George Dixon – MP for Birmingham, also Edgbaston. Educationalist *

Jeremy Dyson Jeremy Dyson (born 14 June 1966) is a British author, musician and screenwriter who, along with Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, is one of the League of Gentlemen. He also created and co-wrote the West End show ''Ghost Stories ...

– scriptwriter especially for

The League of Gentlemen ''The League of Gentlemen'' is a surreal British comedy horror sitcom that premiered on BBC Two in 1999. The programme is set in Royston Vasey, a fictional town in northern England, originally based on Alston, Cumbria, and follows the live ...

* Lord John Dyson b.1943 Master of The Rolls 2012 – 2016 * Matthew Elliott – CEO of

Vote Leave Vote Leave was a campaigning organisation that supported a "Leave" vote in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. On 13 April 2016 it was designated by the Electoral Commission as the official campaign in favour of leav ...

* Ralph Emmerson (1913–2008) – Bishop of Knaresborough from 1972 to 1979 * Ernest Farrar (1885–1918) – composer * James Fawcett (professor) B.D. * Robin Flower (1881–1946) – poet *

John Freeborn John Connell Freeborn, (1 December 1919 – 28 August 2010) was a fighter pilot and flying ace in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. In 1939, he shot down another RAF fighter in a friendly-fire incident that marked the firs ...

(b. 1919) – Battle of Britain RAF pilot * Mike Hann Wimbledon Junior Champion 1955. Wing Commander RAF * Richard Harrington MP (b. 1957) – Member of Parliament for Watford, 2010 – *

Tony Harrison Tony Harrison (born 30 April 1937) is an English poet, translator and playwright. He was born in Beeston, Leeds and he received his education in Classics from Leeds Grammar School and Leeds University. He is one of Britain's foremost verse w ...

(b. 1937) – poet * Sir

John Hawkshaw Sir John Hawkshaw FRS FRSE FRSA MICE (9 April 1811 – 2 June 1891), was an English civil engineer. He served as President of the Institution of Civil Engineers 1862-63. His most noteworthy work is the Severn Tunnel. Early life He was born ...

(1811–91) – Engineer (railways, canals, tunnels) * George Henderson (1854–1903) – British soldier and military historian most famous for his work regarding the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...

and

Stonewall Jackson Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, considered one of the best-known Confederate commanders, after Robert E. Lee. He played a prominent role in nearl ...

* Henry Bendelack Hewetson (1850–1899) –

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a med ...

and naturalist * Sir Jack Hibbert – director of the Central Statistical Office, 1985–92. *

Ken Hodcroft Ken Hodcroft (born 1953) is a British businessman, and the managing director of Increased Oil Recovery (IOR). IOR owned Hartlepool United for 18 years and Hodcroft was the chairman, before selling the football club to JPNG in 2015. Early life ...

– Chairman of

Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. The team competes in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They were founded in 1908 as Hart ...

George Edward Holderness George Edward Holderness (5 March 1913 – 21 October 1987) was an Anglican bishop. He was born in 1913 and educated at Leeds Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford. Ordained in 1936, he began his career with a curacy at Bedale and was then ...

– eminent Anglican priest in the second half of the 20th century *

Arthur Michael Hollis The Rt Rev Arthur Michael Hollis was an eminent Anglican clergyman in the mid 20th century. A member of a distinguished family, His father was George Arthur Hollis, bishop of Taunton, his brother Christopher Hollis MP and his father in law ...

– eminent Anglican clergyman in the mid 20th century. * Peter Matthew Hutton (born 1966) – Sports media executive and former commentator *

John Ireland John Benjamin Ireland (January 30, 1914 – March 21, 1992) was a Canadian actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in ''All the King's Men'' (1949), making him the first Vancouver-born actor to receive an Oscar nomin ...

(1879–1962) – composer *

Samuel Waite Johnson Samuel Waite Johnson (14 October 1831 – 14 January 1912) was an English railway engineer, and was Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the Midland Railway from 1873 to 1903. He was born in Bramley, Yorkshire and educated at Leeds Grammar ...

(1831–1912) – mechanical engineer *

Donald Kaberry, Baron Kaberry of Adel Donald Kaberry, Baron Kaberry of Adel, MC, TD (18 August 1907 – 13 March 1991), known as Sir Donald Kaberry, 1st Baronet, from 1960 to 1983, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP ...

(1907–91) – politician, Member of Parliament for Leeds North West * Sir

Gerald Kaufman Sir Gerald Bernard Kaufman (21 June 1930 – 26 February 2017) was a British politician and author who served as a minister throughout the Labour government of 1974 to 1979. Elected as a member of parliament (MP) at the 1970 general election, ...

(1930–2017) – Member of Parliament * Reverend Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy ( Woodbine Willy) – priest and counsellor in

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Theophilus Lindsey Theophilus Lindsey (20 June 1723 O.S.3 November 1808) was an English theologian and clergyman who founded the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in the country, at Essex Street Chapel. Early life Lindsey was born in Middlewich, Cheshire, ...

, Vicar of Catterick * Frank Marsh (1936–2011) – consultant nephrologist * William Ryott Maughan (1863–1933) – English-born Australian politician * Alston James Weller May – 2nd Bishop of Northern Rhodesia * Stanley Metcalfe (1932–2017) – cricketer *

Isaac Milner Isaac Milner (11 January 1750 – 1 April 1820) was a mathematician, an inventor, the President of Queens' College, Cambridge and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. He was instrumental in the 1785 religious conversion of William Wilberforce a ...

D.D. A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...

, Dean of Carlisle and Master of Queens, Cambridge * Joseph Milner

LL.D. Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...

(1744–97) – English evangelical divine and Headmaster. *

Colin Montgomerie Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE (born 23 June 1963) is a Scottish professional golfer. He has won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999. He has won 31 European Tour events ...

(attended circa 1980–82) – Golf Professional *

Patrick Munro Patrick Munro (9 October 1883 – 3 May 1942), also known as Pat Munro, was a Scotland international rugby union player and later a British Conservative politician.Scrum.com player profile. Retrieved 20 February 2010 Rugby union career Amateur ...

(1883–1942) Conservative M.P. and international rugby union player *

William Nicholson, 1st Baron Nicholson Field Marshal William Gustavus Nicholson, 1st Baron Nicholson, (2 March 1845 – 13 September 1918) was a British Army officer who served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the Mahdist War, the Third Anglo-Burmese War, the Second Boer War and ...

(1845–1918) – Field Marshal *

Richard Peacock Richard Peacock (9 April 1820 – 3 March 1889) was an English engineer, one of the founders of locomotive manufacturer Beyer, Peacock and Company. Early life and education Born in Swaledale, Yorkshire, Richard Peacock was educated at Leed ...

(1820–89) – Engineer; railway locomotive designer * Christopher Price – politician * Joseph Proctor (academic)

Master of Catherine Hall. *

Joseph Bancroft Reade Rev. Joseph Bancroft Reade FRS FRMS (5 April 1801 – 12 December 1870) was an English clergyman, amateur scientist and pioneer of photography. A gentleman scientist, Reade co-founded the Royal Microscopical Society and the Royal Meteorological ...

FRS (1801–70) – Clergyman, amateur scientist and pioneer of photography * James Buchanan Seaton Archdeacon of Johannesburg and later

Bishop of Wakefield The Bishop of Wakefield is an Episcopal polity, episcopal title which takes its name after the City status in the United Kingdom, city of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. The title was first created for a Diocese, diocesan Anglican minist ...

Sydney Selwyn Sydney Selwyn (7 November 1934 – 8 November 1996) was a British physician, medical scientist, and professor. He was a medical microbiologist with an interest in bacteriology, authority on the history of medicine, avid collector, writer, ...

(1934–1996), British physician, medical scientist and notable expert in the history of medicine. *

Christopher Serpell Christopher Serpell (1 July 1910– 3 June 1991) was a journalist and BBC diplomatic correspondent. Serpell was born in Leeds, England, in 1910. He was educated at Leeds Grammar School - where his father was senior master - and at Merton Col ...

1910 – 1991 BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Father was Senior Master. *

Guy Sigsworth Guy Sigsworth is an English record producer and songwriter. During his career, he has worked with many artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Imogen Heap, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian, Alanis M ...

– electronica producer and was member of the band Frou Frou *

(1724–94) – civil and mechanical engineer famous for building the third

Eddystone Lighthouse The Eddystone Lighthouse is a lighthouse that is located on the dangerous Eddystone Rocks, south of Rame Head in Cornwall, England. The rocks are submerged below the surface of the sea and are composed of Precambrian gneiss. View at 1:50000 ...

, and for many other engineering projects. *

Barnett Stross Sir Barnett Stross (25 December 1899 – 13 May 1967) was a British doctor and politician. He served twenty years as a Labour Party Member of Parliament, famously led the humanitarian campaign "Lidice Shall Live" and pushed for reforms in ind ...

(1899–1967) – doctor and politician * Dave Syers (b. 1987) – Professional footballer for

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* Godfrey Talbot – war-time BBC correspondent; later the BBC's first officially-accredited royal correspondent. *

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– surgeon and ophthalmologist * Ralph Thoresby (1658–1724) – Merchant, dissenter, and author of the first history of Leeds, ''Ducatus Leodiensis'', in 1715 *

John Rowe Townsend John Rowe Townsend (19 May 1922 – 24 March 2014) was a British children's writer and children's literature scholar. His best-known children's novel is ''The Intruder'', which won a 1971 Edgar Award. His best-known academic work is a reference s ...

– children's writer * Gary Verity – Farmer, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and

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promoter *

Lawrence Wager Lawrence Rickard Wager, commonly known as Bill Wager, (5 February 1904 – 20 November 1965) was a British geologist, explorer and mountaineer, described as "one of the finest geological thinkers of his generation"Vincent and best remembered for ...

(1904–65) – geologist, explorer and mountaineer *

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(1919–1941) – cricketer *

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MP (b. 1950) – Member of Parliament for Eastbourne *

Philip Wilby Philip Wilby (born Pontefract, 1949) is a British composer, organist and choir director. Education Educated at Leeds Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford, he joined the staff at the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in the Department of Musi ...

(b. 1949) – composer *

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, Bishop of Bristol * Ricky Wilson – Lead singer of the

. *

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- Rugby player for Wales and Opsreys * Mark Kielesz-Levine (b.1985) – Television Journalist and Presenter.

Notable teachers

* Alan Aldous (1923–92) – Headmaster from 1970–75 *

(1826–1910) – Headmaster from 1854–62; later the third Bishop of Sydney, 1884–89 *

Joanne Harris Joanne Michèle Sylvie Harris (born 3 July 1964) is an English-French author, best known for her novel '' Chocolat'' (1999), which was adapted the following year for the film '' Chocolat''. Early life Harris was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, t ...

– Author of '' Chocolat'', ''

Gentlemen & Players ''Gentlemen & Players'' is a novel by Joanne Harris first published in 2005. A dark psychological thriller, some of the themes may be partly based on Harris' experiences as a teacher at Leeds Grammar School. Set in the present day during Michae ...

'' (Imaginary school based partly on Leeds Grammar School), et al. *

Cyril Norwood Sir Cyril M. Norwood (15 September 1875 – 13 March 1956) was an English educationalist who served as Headmaster of Bristol Grammar School and Harrow School, Master of Marlborough College, and President of St John's College, Oxford. Biography T ...

– Classics master, later Headmaster of

Harrow School Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (sc ...

* Samuel Pullen (1598–1667), first master, under the second endowment of the school, and later

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the sec ...

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. * Richard Vickerman Taylor (b. 1830) – Assistant master, later priest and historian *

Anthony Verity Anthony Courtenay Froude Verity (born 25 February 1939) is an educationalist and classical scholar and was Master of Dulwich College from 1986 to 1995. Early life He was born the son of Arthur and Alice Kathleen Verity. He was educated at Queen ...

– Headmaster from 1976–86, went on to head

Dulwich College Dulwich College is a 2–19 Independent school (United Kingdom), independent, Day school, day and boarding school for Single-sex education, boys in Dulwich, London, England. As a Public school (United Kingdom), public school, it began as the Col ...

* Philip Britton MBE – Head of Physics, Deputy Head Academic, Headmaster of Bolton Boys’ School

References

External links

The Grammar School at Leeds website

GCSE and Value Added statistics
from the Department for Education and Skills
16+ statistics
from DfES

including the full text of a number of books about the school
The Leodiensian, No. 1 Vol. 1, October 1827
{{Authority control Educational institutions established in the 1550s Defunct schools in Leeds 1552 establishments in England Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference Educational institutions disestablished in 2008 2008 disestablishments in England Diamond schools Leeds Blue Plaques Edward Middleton Barry buildings