Pitsford School, established 1989, is a co-educational, 3-18 independent school in

Pitsford Pitsford is a village and civil parish in West Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom. According to 2001 census, the parish's population was 636 people, increasing to 671 at the 2011 census. The village's name means 'Peoht's ford'. Pitsford ...

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is ...

. Originally called Northamptonshire Grammar School, the school changed its name to Pitsford School in September 2011. Pitsford School is run by the Northamptonshire Independent Grammar School Charity Trust, set up on 27 July 1998. The trust was registered with the Charity Commission in August 1988 to promote and provide for the advancement of education. On 6 September 1989, the school opened with 47 boys admitted across three year groups, Y7-9. The founding Headmaster was Malcolm Tozer, the current headmaster is Craig Walker.

History

The main building is the Georgian Pitsford Hall, built in 1764 for Colonel James Money. The architect was John Johnson who also designed

Kingsthorpe Kingsthorpe is a suburb and civil parish of Northampton, England. It is situated to the north of Northampton town centre and is served by the A508 and A5199 roads which join at Kingsthorpe's centre. The 2011 Census recorded the population of ...

Hall and the County (or City) Rooms in Leicester. A private house and estate until it was sold to the Polish order of the Holy Family of Nazareth who set up the Holy Family of Nazareth Convent School in 1947. This school closed in 1984 and the estate was bought by Northamptonshire Independent Grammar School Charity Trust Ltd, who opened the new school on Wednesday 6 September 1989."Pitsford" Agnieszka Stawicka, 2009. Initially the school was boys only but admitted girls ten years later in 1999. Pitsford School was founded by Malcolm Robinson with support from patrons Christian Lady Hesketh OBE, DL, and Sir Hereward Wake Bart, MC, DL. The school maintains a meteorological station, Pitsford Hall weather station, which was founded in 1998. The station is run by Sixth Form pupils as a long-term community service project and receives the patronage of broadcast meteorologist Alex Deakin.

Curriculum

Pitsford School offers GCSE and A Level examinations. Most students progress to Higher Education, with annually 66% to World Ranked Universities and 9.5% to Oxbridge/UCL.Financial Times Special Report - Independent School Rankings 2011.

Buildings

As the school grew, new buildings were added to accommodate the increasing pupil numbers. The Michael Robinson Memorial Library was built in 1992. The Foundation stone was dedicated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother during a ceremony in the school Gymnasium, shortly before the building was completed on 30 June 1992. The Sunley Science and Technology was built in 1998. The guest of honour at the official opening was ex-Prime minister Baroness

Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was the first female British prime ...

. The Duckworth Building was completed in February 2012 and houses the Junior School. This building celebrates the support since the founding of the School of

Keith Duckworth David Keith Duckworth (10 August 1933 – 18 December 2005) was an English mechanical engineer. He is most famous for designing the Cosworth DFV (Double Four Valve) engine, an engine that revolutionised the sport of Formula One. Early life a ...

and his family. It is situated on the old orchard site to the North of Pitsford Hall.

Notable visitors

Queen Mother

On 30 June 1992 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother visited Northamptonshire Grammar School and laid the Foundation stone of the Michael Robinson Memorial Library. The Queen Mother regularly visited Pitsford Hall in the twenties and thirties as a guest of

Captain Drummond Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, Master of the

Pytchley Hunt The Pytchley with Woodland Hunt is an organisation formerly based near the Northamptonshire village of Pytchley, but since 1966 has had kennels close to Brixworth. The Pytchley country used to include areas of the Rockingham Forest but was split ...

. The small conservatory at the front of the house was added by Captain Drummond so that the then Queen Mother, Queen Mary, could watch her granddaughters' riding lessons on the front lawn. This was renovated in time for the Royal Visit. The school now awards the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship.

Reference List

External links

School website
{{authority control Independent schools in West Northamptonshire District Educational institutions established in 1989 1989 establishments in England